Bauchi Mosque Removes Imam Over Alleged Tinubu Campaign Ahead of 2027 Election

A mosque committee in Bauchi metropolis has removed Imam Dahiru Abubakar from his position over allegations that he used religious sermons and mosque premises to promote President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid ahead of the 2027 general election.

Abubakar served at a mosque in Madina Quarters and was reportedly removed after continuing to make comments supporting Tinubu following the Subhi prayer on Sunday, despite previous warnings from the mosque committee.

A source cited in the report said the Imam repeatedly told worshippers that Tinubu was not responsible for Nigeria’s insecurity and deserved another term in office.

“He would tell the congregation after prayer that Tinubu did not cause insecurity and he deserved to be reelected,” the source said.

Abubakar defended his sermons, saying he had encouraged worshippers to stop blaming the President for the country’s security and economic challenges. He also said some members of the congregation were prepared to vote for Tinubu in 2027.

The former Imam maintained that his preaching focused on religious devotion and the need for divine intervention to address insecurity. He also referred to conflicts in Sudan, Chad and Mali while questioning whether Tinubu was responsible for the insecurity in those countries.

Confirming the removal, mosque committee chairman Imam Abubakar Jibrin said the dispute went beyond the Imam’s political support for Tinubu. He alleged that Abubakar had gathered people in front of the mosque and sometimes used the premises for political discussions.

Jibrin said the committee had repeatedly cautioned the Imam against turning the mosque into a political platform, stressing that the premises were intended primarily for worship. He argued that political campaigns and discussions should take place through political parties rather than in a mosque.

The committee chairman also alleged that Abubakar had proposed renaming the mosque from Masjid Abdullahi Bin Zubbair to Masjid Imam Bola Ahmed Tinubu. According to Jibrin, the committee rejected the proposal because the mosque belonged to the community.

Jibrin said the committee had decided not to reinstate Abubakar, adding that it was not opposed to any political candidate but wanted Nigerians to have leaders who would serve the country’s interests. The report did not indicate whether the former Imam planned to challenge the decision or whether another cleric had been appointed to replace him.