2027: Lagos Muslims vow to withhold support from parties fielding non-Muslim governorship candidates
*Adopt reports on bills to establish Islamic Personal Court, Shariah Court of Appeal
*Want Lagos State Govt to end imbalance, marginalisation of Muslims in state school, health sectors’ appointments
By KEMI KASUMU
The Assembly further expressed concern over what it described as the marginalisation of Muslims in political appointments and in the management of health institutions in Lagos State. It mandated the leadership of MCLS to engage governments at all levels on a continuous basis to safeguard Muslim interests.
The Muslim Community of Lagos State (MCLS) has declared that it will not support any political party that fields a non-Muslim candidate for the office of governor in the 2027 general election.
The position was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the 2026 General Assembly of the umbrella Muslim body, held on Saturday, January 31, 2026, at the Conference Hall of the Lagos State Secretariat Mosque, Alausa, Ikeja.
The General Assembly, presided over by the President of MCLS, Alhaji Mohammed Oyinlomo Danmole, was held under the theme “Islamic Ethics and Good Governance: A Blueprint for Leaders and the Led in Contemporary Lagos.”
During the meeting, participants adopted reports on the proposed bills to establish an Islamic Personal Court and a Shariah Court of Appeal in Lagos State. The Assembly also called on the Babajide Sanwo-Olu-led state government to ensure religious balance in appointments and deployments, particularly within the education sector.
Delegates drawn from over 100 Islamic organisations across Lagos deliberated on issues of governance, education, religious rights and political participation. The Assembly urged Muslims in the state to participate actively in politics and to rally support for Muslim candidates, especially in the governorship race.
At the end of deliberations, the Assembly issued a comprehensive communiqué addressing administrative, social and religious matters. Among the resolutions was the provisional approval of the 2024 and 2025 financial reports, pending the completion of an ongoing audit exercise.
The communiqué also urged Muslims to avoid discordant opinions, particularly on social media, and called on the Lagos State Government to ensure religious balance in the appointment and deployment of Tutors-General and Permanent Secretaries across the six education districts of the state.
The Assembly further expressed concern over what it described as the marginalisation of Muslims in political appointments and in the management of health institutions in Lagos State. It mandated the leadership of MCLS to engage governments at all levels on a continuous basis to safeguard Muslim interests.
Other resolutions included a call on the state government to recruit Arabic and Islamic Studies teachers in public schools, concern over the shortage of such teachers, and an appeal to Muslim parents to expose their children to Islamic practices from an early age.
The Assembly also directed the immediate handover of all documents relating to the MCLS scholarship programme by the former executive committee, adopted a new constitution for the organisation, and approved the establishment of a youth wing of the MCLS.
In addition, the General Assembly appealed to the Lagos State Government to fully respect the Supreme Court’s decision permitting the use of hijab by female Muslim students in public schools.
Islamic organisations represented at the Assembly included Anwaru Islam, NACOMYO, FOMWAN, MSSN, NASFAT, Ansarudeen Society of Nigeria, Association of Muslim Professionals, NATAIS, Islamic League, Criterion and several others.
The Assembly concluded with a renewed commitment by participants to unity, active civic engagement and the promotion of good governance anchored on Islamic ethics for the overall development of Lagos State.
