A mosque committee in Bauchi metropolis has removed Imam Dahiru Abubakar from his position following allegations that he repeatedly used religious gatherings to promote President Bola Tinubu’s re-election ahead of the 2027 general election.

The imam served at Masjid Abdullahi Bin Zubbair in Madina Quarters, Bauchi, where the committee accused him of bringing political discussions into the mosque despite repeated warnings.

According to reports, Abubakar was suspended after allegedly repeating the practice following the Subhi prayer on Sunday.

A source familiar with the matter said the imam regularly addressed worshippers about Tinubu’s administration, arguing that the president should not be blamed for Nigeria’s insecurity and deserved another term.

Imam admits discussing Tinubu’s re-election

Abubakar acknowledged discussing Tinubu and the country’s challenges during his sermons.

He reportedly urged worshippers to stop blaming the president for insecurity and economic hardship, describing the problems as an “end times phenomenon” and calling for prayers and greater fear of God.

The imam also argued that insecurity affected other African countries, including Sudan, Chad and Mali, and questioned whether Tinubu was personally responsible for all the security challenges facing Nigeria.

However, the mosque committee reportedly objected to the repeated political discussions, insisting that the mosque should remain a place of worship rather than become a platform for political mobilisation.

Committee rejects proposal to rename mosque after Tinubu

The dispute reportedly extended beyond the imam’s sermons.

The chairman of the mosque committee, Imam Abubakar Jibrin, said the committee was also concerned about Abubakar’s alleged efforts to organise political discussions around the mosque.

Jibrin further accused the imam of proposing that the mosque be renamed from Masjid Abdullahi Bin Zubbair to Masjid Imam Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

According to the chairman, the committee rejected the proposal, maintaining that the mosque belonged to the community and should retain its original name.

Jibrin said the committee had warned Abubakar several times against using the mosque for political activities, arguing that political campaigns should take place through recognised political platforms rather than within a place of worship.

Committee confirms removal

Jibrin confirmed that the committee had decided to remove the imam and would not reinstate him.

He maintained that the decision was not based simply on support for a particular political candidate but on the committee’s objection to political activities within the mosque.

The incident has raised questions about the boundaries between religious leadership, political expression and the use of community religious institutions during election campaigns.

With the 2027 general election approaching, political mobilisation is increasingly becoming part of public discussion across Nigeria.

The Bauchi incident highlights the challenges religious institutions may face when clerics express support for political candidates during religious gatherings.

As for the mosque committee, the central issue was reportedly the repeated use of the mosque for political discussions and the proposed change of its name.

Abubakar’s removal followed the committee’s decision that the mosque should retain its identity as a community place of worship rather than be associated with a political figure.