More than 1,000 Islamic clerics have called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to abandon his bid for re-election in 2027, citing worsening economic hardship and insecurity across the country.
The clerics, under the aegis of Ko Da Naka…For the Struggle to Promote Good Governance and Community Development, in collaboration with AFAQ Educational Foundation, made the call in a communique issued after a national conference held in Kano on Sunday, October 4, 2026.
The conference, themed “An Assessment of the State of the Nation under President Tinubu and the 2027 General Elections,” brought together Islamic scholars and other participants from across northern Nigeria to assess the state of the country and deliberate on the forthcoming general elections.
The clerics expressed dissatisfaction with the direction of the Tinubu administration, particularly its handling of the economy and insecurity, arguing that the challenges had made life increasingly difficult for Nigerians.
Their position comes amid separate endorsements of President Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima for the 2027 presidential election by the Jama’atu Izalatil Bid’ah Wa Iqamatis Sunnah (JIBWIS) and the Qadiriyya movement.
The endorsements followed consultations between the groups and Senator Abdulaziz Yari, Director-General of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council, who has been meeting Islamic leaders across northern Nigeria ahead of the 2027 election.
However, the clerics faulted several economic policies of the Tinubu administration, including the removal of the petrol subsidy, changes to the naira exchange-rate regime, increases in electricity tariffs and tax reforms.
They argued that the policies had aggravated the economic hardship facing ordinary Nigerians.
“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.
“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 communique read.
The clerics consequently urged the Federal Government to review what they described as harmful economic policies and implement measures capable of improving the living conditions of Nigerians.
“Consequently, participants at the conference unanimously agreed that it would be inappropriate to re-elect this government in the forthcoming 2027 general elections if it does not change its harmful economic policies,” they said.
The group maintained that the government would need to reverse what it described as damaging policies and address the country’s worsening economic and security challenges if it hoped to secure continued support ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
