Bauchi Imam removed over campaigning for Tinubu’s re-election campaign in mosque
By KEMI KASUMU
Jibrin said the committee had repeatedly warned Abubakar against discussing partisan politics within the mosque and gathering people around its premises for political purposes.
An imam in Bauchi State, Dahiru Abubakar, has reportedly been removed from his position following allegations that he repeatedly used mosque sermons to defend President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and canvass support for his re-election in 2027.
Abubakar, who led prayers at a mosque in the Madina quarters of Bauchi metropolis, was said to have continued discussing partisan politics during sermons despite repeated warnings from the mosque committee.
According to a report by Prompt News Online, the decision to remove him followed an incident after the early morning prayer on Sunday, when he allegedly reiterated his support for Tinubu, prompting the committee to review his conduct.
Abubakar reportedly acknowledged defending the President during his sermons, arguing that Nigeria’s insecurity and economic hardship should not be blamed entirely on Tinubu.
He attributed the challenges to what he described as an end-time phenomenon and called for divine intervention to address the country’s problems.
The imam also urged worshippers to fear God and refrain from blaming political leaders solely for insecurity, citing crises in countries such as Sudan, Chad and Mali as examples of security challenges affecting other nations.
However, the chairman of the mosque committee, Imam Abubakar Jibrin, said the decision was not based solely on the imam’s alleged support for Tinubu but also on concerns that he was attempting to turn the mosque into a platform for political activities.
Jibrin said the committee had repeatedly warned Abubakar against discussing partisan politics within the mosque and gathering people around its premises for political purposes.
He maintained that mosques should remain places of worship, while political campaigns and meetings should be conducted at party offices or other appropriate venues.
The committee chairman further alleged that Abubakar had proposed renaming the mosque from Masjid Abdullahi Bin Zubbair to Masjid Imam Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
According to Jibrin, the proposal was rejected because the mosque belonged to the community and should not be renamed for political reasons.
He said the committee had resolved to retain the mosque’s original name and ruled out reinstating the imam.
The development comes as political activities gather momentum ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections, raising questions about the boundaries between religious preaching and partisan political engagement in places of worship.
