SOKOTO — Islamic scholar Sheikh Mansur Ibrahim Sokoto has cautioned Muslim clerics and leaders against campaigning for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the basis of his religion or his Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket.
Speaking in Sokoto, Sheikh Mansur urged those seeking to support Tinubu ahead of the 2027 presidential election to focus on the administration’s record and tangible achievements rather than religious sentiment.
“Nobody should come to us and campaign for Tinubu because he is a Muslim or because he picks a Muslim as his running mate,” the cleric said.
He challenged supporters of the President to explain what Tinubu’s administration has achieved for Nigerians, particularly in areas such as education, healthcare, agriculture, business, the economy and electricity.
According to Sheikh Mansur, political support should not be based solely on religious identity.
“Come and campaign for him based on his achievements or nothing else,” he said, stressing that Nigerians should be presented with concrete reasons to support the President.
The cleric also argued that Tinubu’s Muslim-Muslim ticket, which helped mobilise significant Muslim support during the 2023 presidential election, should not automatically translate into continued political support.
He said Muslims and residents of the northern region should judge the administration by its performance rather than assume that a Muslim President and Muslim Vice President necessarily represent their interests.
Sheikh Mansur’s comments come as political activities and mobilisation intensify ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 presidential election, with supporters of President Tinubu already campaigning for his re-election. Recent APC mobilisation efforts have similarly focused on highlighting what supporters describe as the administration’s achievements in education and infrastructure.
The cleric’s message is therefore a direct challenge to religious leaders: if Tinubu deserves another mandate, his supporters should campaign on his record, policies and achievements not simply because he is a Muslim or has a Muslim running mate.
