Imam Dahiru Abubakar has been removed from his position at a mosque in Madina quarters of Bauchi metropolis following disagreements with the mosque committee over his public support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Abubakar was accused of using his preaching sessions after obligatory prayers to defend Tinubu’s administration against criticism over insecurity and economic hardship. His removal reportedly followed another incident on Sunday morning after the Subhi prayer, despite earlier warnings from the mosque committee.
A source familiar with the matter said the imam had repeatedly told worshippers that Tinubu was not responsible for the country’s insecurity and deserved another opportunity to lead Nigeria.
“He would tell the congregation after prayer that Tinubu did not cause insecurity and that he deserved to be reelected.
“A committee was set up after he did the same thing last weekend and he was subsequently removed,” the source said.
Abubakar, while explaining his position, said his sermons were intended to discourage worshippers from blaming the president for Nigeria’s security and economic challenges. He described the difficulties as an “end times phenomenon” and urged people to embrace faith and prayer.
“I have been preaching to the people to stop castigating President Tinubu for the insecurity and economic challenges. They prepared to vote for him and give him another mandate in 2027 to continue his mandate,” he said.
He added that he had cited insecurity in other African countries, including Sudan, Chad and Mali, while questioning whether Tinubu was responsible for the challenges facing those countries.
Confirming the removal, chairman of the mosque committee, Imam Abubakar Jibrin, said the committee’s concerns extended beyond the imam’s support for Tinubu to his alleged use of the mosque and its surroundings for political discussions.
“Our major challenge with him was not only his campaign for Tinubu but the way and manner he gathered many people in front of the mosque and sometimes entered the mosque purposely to discuss politics,” Jibrin said.
The committee chairman said Abubakar had been warned several times against turning the mosque into a political platform. He also disclosed that the committee rejected a proposal to rename the mosque from Masjid Abdullahi Bin Zubbair to Masjid Imam Bola Ahmed Tinubu mosque, insisting that the mosque belonged to the community and should retain its name.
Jibrin said the committee had finalised its decision to remove Abubakar, adding that the imam could establish his own mosque if he wished to continue his activities without the committee’s restrictions. He maintained that the committee was not opposed to any political candidate and prayed for a leader who would be a blessing to the country.
