A northern Islamic cleric has warned Muslim religious leaders and supporters of President Bola Tinubu against using religion as the main argument to campaign for his re-election ahead of the 2027 presidential election, insisting that Nigerians should judge the president by his performance and achievements rather than his religious identity.
The cleric specifically cautioned Islamic scholars who intend to support Tinubu against presenting him to Nigerians simply as a fellow Muslim or emphasising that he selected Vice President Kashim Shettima, another Muslim, as his running mate.
According to him, anyone who wants to campaign for Tinubu should first present concrete evidence of what the administration has achieved since taking office and explain how those achievements have improved the lives of Nigerians.
He made the remarks while addressing his congregation in Hausa in a video seen by SaharaReporters.
Speaking about the role of religious leaders in politics, the cleric said politicians should learn to tolerate criticism, stressing that religious leaders have a responsibility to speak the truth regardless of whose political interests their comments may affect.
“The politicians should be patient. It is our duty to speak the truth, and Allah has commanded us to speak the truth. We will not stop speaking the truth,” he said.
He subsequently issued a direct warning to Islamic clerics who participate in political discussions and campaign for political candidates.
“Therefore, I advise the clerics who speak about politics that, this time around, they should not campaign for Tinubu by presenting him as our fellow Muslim or as someone who chose a Muslim as his running mate,” the cleric said.
The cleric challenged Tinubu’s supporters to abandon religious appeals and instead put the president’s record before Nigerians for public examination.
“If they want to campaign for Bola Tinubu, this time, he should come forward and let us examine the progress he has made since taking office. If life has become easier under his administration, tell us. If there is any achievement worthy of praise, come out openly and explain it to us,” he said.
He challenged supporters of the administration to identify tangible progress in sectors that directly affect ordinary Nigerians.
“If Bola Tinubu has brought progress in education, healthcare, agriculture, businesses, or road infrastructure, or if he has fulfilled the promises he made, including providing the electricity he promised when he assumed office, then come out and tell us about these achievements,” he said.
“He can be campaigned for based on those accomplishments.”
The cleric’s comments come against the backdrop of the controversy that surrounded Tinubu’s Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket during the 2023 election.
Tinubu, a Muslim, selected Shettima, also a Muslim, as his running mate, a decision that generated intense debate across Nigeria.
However, the cleric argued that religious identity should not become a substitute for accountability or be used to secure political support where supporters cannot point to concrete achievements.
He said Nigerians should be allowed to assess the administration based on its record and determine whether it has delivered on the promises made by the president.
The cleric mentioned education, healthcare, agriculture, business, roads and electricity among the critical areas where Tinubu’s supporters should demonstrate progress.
He also drew a distinction between his assessment of the president and his position on state governors, saying governors can often be judged more directly because residents can physically see projects and developments in their communities.
“As for our governors, we stand with them because we can see the projects and work they are doing. May Allah judge every governor according to the things they have done, which we can see for ourselves,” he said.
He therefore urged anyone preparing to campaign for Tinubu to first present the president’s record and allow Nigerians to determine whether those accomplishments justify another mandate.
“So, whoever wants to campaign for the President this year should first show us what he has achieved and campaign for him based on those achievements,” he said.
The cleric went further to urge supporters of Tinubu not to prevent Nigerians from considering alternative political candidates if there are no convincing achievements upon which to base another campaign for the president.
“And if there is nothing to campaign for him with, then allow others to come forward so that we can try and see whether Allah will give us someone who can do better,” he said.
His remarks could spark fresh debate among Muslim leaders, political actors and supporters of the Tinubu administration as political activities ahead of the 2027 election gradually intensify.
The statement also raises questions about the continued role of religion in Nigerian electoral politics, particularly whether religious identity should remain a major factor in determining political allegiance or whether voters should place greater emphasis on governance, economic conditions and measurable development.
For the cleric, Muslim leaders who choose to support Tinubu have a responsibility to make a case based on his record rather than simply appealing to religious solidarity.
He argued that if the administration has delivered meaningful improvements, those achievements should be openly presented and defended before Nigerians.
But if supporters cannot identify sufficient achievements to justify another mandate, he said, Nigerians should be allowed to listen to other candidates and determine whether another leader could perform better.
His comments therefore amount to a call for religious leaders to separate faith from political accountability and for voters to scrutinise the records of politicians before deciding who deserves their support in 2027.