More than 1,000 Islamic clerics have called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to refrain from contesting the 2027 presidential election, citing economic hardship, insecurity, and the mass emigration of skilled Nigerians as key reasons for their position. The call was made public through a communique issued at the end of a national conference held in Kano State on Sunday, October 7, 2026, and made available to Legit.ng.
Clerics Condemn Economic Policies at Kano Conference
The conference, themed "An Assessment of the State of the Nation under President Tinubu and the 2027 General Elections," was organised by the Ko Da Naka movement, a group promoting good governance and community development, in collaboration with the AFAQ Educational Foundation. Participants, including scholars, doctors, and professors, unanimously condemned the Tinubu administration's economic direction.
Specifically, they pointed to the removal of the fuel subsidy, the restructuring of the naira exchange-rate system, increases in electricity tariffs, and ongoing tax reforms as policies that have worsened the daily lives of ordinary Nigerians. The communique read: "It is unfortunate that the government has continued to insist on pursuing these policies, which are increasing hardship among the people, rather than reviewing and correcting them."
It added: "The government prioritised the growth of its revenue at a time when the rising cost of living and unemployment are threatening the lives and well-being of citizens." The clerics warned that if the administration refuses to change course, voters should use the 2027 election to bring in leadership capable of delivering "relief from hardship, prosperity, security, employment, justice and development."
Insecurity and Brain Drain Raised as Key Concerns
Beyond the economy, the conference raised alarm over continued killings and kidnappings attributed to bandits and other armed groups, especially in the North-West. The clerics urged the federal government to treat insecurity as an emergency and take immediate action in affected communities.
The conference also addressed the growing exodus of Nigerian doctors, teachers, engineers, and other skilled professionals. Participants linked this trend to poor pay, inadequate infrastructure, and difficult working conditions, and called on the government to create conditions that would encourage qualified Nigerians living abroad to return home.
Among the scholars who presented papers at the conference were Dr Abdulmuɗɗalib Ahmad Giɗaɗo, Prof Muhd Muslim Ibrahim, Sheikh Kabir Bashir Abdulhamid, Dr Aminu Isma'il Sagagi, and Sheikh Muhd Sani Khamis. The clerics also called on religious scholars across the country to speak honestly about governance, resist being used as political tools, and hold leaders accountable regardless of their party, ethnicity, or religion.
Communique Urges Voters to Reject Tinubu in 2027
The communique explicitly stated: "The President should refrain from contesting the 2027 election. If he refuses to do so, it is incumbent upon citizens to reject his candidacy and allow those whom they believe can provide better leadership." This statement underscores the clerics' resolve to influence voter behaviour in the upcoming general elections.
Meanwhile, in a separate development, Legit.ng reported that Sheikh Qaribullah, leader of the Qadiriyya Sufi sect in Africa, received the APC Presidential Campaign Council team. The sect leader linked his group's backing to the appointment of Senator Abdul'aziz Yari as Director-General of the campaign council. Sheikh Qaribullah announced that the Qadiriyya movement would begin prayers for Tinubu, covering key national concerns.
