An imam identified as Dahiru Abubakar has been removed from his position at a mosque in Madina Quarters of Bauchi metropolis over allegations of using religious preaching to campaign for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election in 2027.
Abubakar was reportedly dismissed after repeatedly making comments in support of Tinubu during sermons delivered after obligatory prayers, including the early morning Subhi prayer on Sunday.
A source familiar with the development said the imam had been telling worshippers that Tinubu was not responsible for the country’s insecurity and deserved another term in office.
According to the source, the mosque committee had earlier set up a committee to address the matter before deciding to remove him after he allegedly repeated the act.
Speaking on the development, Abubakar confirmed that his sermons had focused on discouraging worshippers from blaming Tinubu for Nigeria’s security and economic challenges.
He argued that insecurity was not limited to Nigeria, citing crises in countries such as Sudan, Chad and Mali, and maintained that the challenges required divine intervention and prayers.
“I have been preaching to the people to stop castigating President Tinubu for the insecurity and economic challenges. They prepared to vote for him and give him another mandate in 2027 to continue his mandate,” he said.
Abubakar explained that his preaching centred on the fear of God, everyday activities and the need for prayers, adding that his position did not go down well with the mosque committee.
However, the chairman of the mosque committee, Imam Abubakar Jibrin, said the decision to remove Abubakar was not based solely on his support for Tinubu but also on his alleged attempts to turn the mosque into a political gathering place.
Jibrin said the committee had repeatedly cautioned the imam against discussing politics within the mosque and gathering people in front of the premises for political activities.
He maintained that although politics was necessary for choosing the country’s leaders, political campaigns and meetings should take place at party offices rather than places of worship.
The committee chairman also alleged that Abubakar had proposed changing the mosque’s name from Masjid Abdullahi Bin Zubbair to Masjid Imam Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
According to Jibrin, the committee rejected the proposal, insisting that the mosque belonged to the community and that its existing name would remain unchanged.
He confirmed that the committee had removed Abubakar from his position and would not reinstate him.
Jibrin, however, stressed that the committee was not opposed to any presidential candidate or political party, saying its members were praying for God to choose the best leader for Nigeria.
He added that the mosque should remain a place of worship rather than a platform for political campaigns.
