Professor Mansur Ibrahim Sokoto, a prominent Islamic scholar, has warned Muslim clerics against using religion to campaign for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
The cleric urged religious leaders to stop seeking support for Tinubu simply because he is a Muslim, insisting that political backing should be based on his administration’s performance and achievements.
“Do not sell him to us merely because he is a Muslim,” Sokoto warned.
He challenged clerics and other supporters of the president to present clear evidence of what the Tinubu administration has achieved for Nigerians instead of relying on religious identity to win public support.
Sokoto stressed that Nigerians should assess the president’s record in key areas, including education, healthcare, agriculture, business, the economy and electricity supply.
His warning comes as political activities gather pace ahead of the 2027 general elections, with the religious composition of Tinubu’s presidential ticket remaining a subject of debate.
Tinubu contested the 2023 presidential election alongside Kashim Shettima, forming a Muslim Muslim ticket that attracted significant attention during the campaign.
The scholar has previously criticised the administration, alleging that Muslims and people in Northern Nigeria have not received the attention they expected despite the support many gave Tinubu during the last election.
He maintained that religious affiliation alone should not determine political support and called on Nigerians to focus on leadership performance and policies that affect their daily lives.
Sokoto’s latest warning adds to growing discussions about the role of religious leaders in Nigeria’s electoral politics and whether places of worship should be used to promote political candidates.
