Islamic clerics in Katsina state have publicly rejected the All Progressives Congress (APC) choice of a female candidate for the 2027 House of Representatives election, sparking political tension in the region.
Controversy Over Candidate Selection
The candidate at the center of the dispute, Jamilu Abdu-Mani, currently serves as Special Adviser on Girl Child Education and Child Development to Governor Dikko Radda. She recently emerged as the consensus candidate of the APC for the Mani/Bindawa federal constituency following a tense internal selection process within the party.
Earlier, another aspirant, Ahmad Saleh, had been initially picked, but disagreements among party stakeholders forced leaders to revisit the decision. A committee led by former governor Aminu Masari later oversaw a new round of consultations that produced Abdu-Mani as the agreed candidate, replacing other hopefuls, including the sitting lawmaker, Ahmad Yusuf.
Religious Leaders Speak Out
However, her nomination has drawn sharp criticism from some religious leaders in the area. During a teaching session at a mosque in Katsina, one cleric, Abu Abdullahi, criticized the decision, stating that it goes against religious teachings. "The Prophet, in an authentic Hadith, cautioned us against handing leadership affairs to women. Why do we, people of this constituency, want to deviate from our religious teachings? It's against our teachings," he was quoted as saying.
In a similar vein, another cleric, Usman Salisu, used his Friday sermon in Bindawa to call on political leaders and community stakeholders to resist the move. He urged them to challenge the party's decision, even if it comes at a personal cost: "We have heard rumour that a party has opted for a woman as its flagbearer in the next election. We are respectfully calling on the chairman of Bindawa local government and other stakeholders to challenge this decision, even if it will cost them their positions, because the Prophet said any society that appoints a woman as a leader is doomed."
Broader Political Context
This development comes amid other political maneuvers in Katsina state. Previously, Yusuf Buhari, son of the late former President Muhammadu Buhari, was selected as the APC consensus candidate for the Sandamu/Daura/Mai'adua Federal Constituency ahead of the 2027 elections. Party stakeholders reportedly backed his emergence following internal consultations, seen as part of efforts to strengthen the party's hold in the strategically important constituency.
Additionally, in Rivers state, supporters and political stakeholders purchased APC nomination forms for Governor Siminalayi Fubara ahead of the 2027 governorship election. The move, spearheaded by Hon. Awaji-Inombek Abiante and members of the Rivers Elders Forum, was said to reflect the "yearnings of Rivers people" for continuity in leadership and governance direction.
The rejection of Abdu-Mani's candidacy by Islamic clerics highlights ongoing tensions between religious beliefs and political participation in Nigeria, particularly regarding women's roles in leadership. The APC and party stakeholders in Katsina now face pressure to address these objections as the 2027 elections approach.
