More than 1,000 Islamic clerics from across northern Nigeria have called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to abandon his 2027 re-election bid, citing escalating insecurity, kidnappings, rampant killings, particularly in the North-West and severe economic hardship.
​The resolution was contained in a joint communique issued following a national conference held on Sunday, October 4, 2026, in Kano State. The event was organized by the Ko Da Naka Movement, a group dedicated to good governance and community development, in collaboration with the AFAQ Educational Foundation.
​The conference, themed “An Assessment of the State of the Nation under President Tinubu and the 2027 General Elections,” brought together religious scholars, community leaders, and civil society representatives to evaluate the administration’s trajectory over the past three years.
​Reading key resolutions from the communique, representatives of the organisers criticised the federal government’s handling of national security and economic reform policies.
​The clerics pointed out that despite repeated assurances from the administration, banditry, terrorism, and mass abductions continue to devastate communities in the North-West and other regions. They also highlighted the ongoing “brain drain” of skilled professionals leaving the country due to pervasive instability and severe economic pressures.
​The communique specifically criticized government economic measures, including the removal of the petrol subsidy, the unification of the naira exchange rate, tax reform bills, and steep increases in electricity tariffs, arguing that these policies have exacerbated poverty without providing adequate social safety nets.
​”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 clerics stated in the joint declaration. “The government prioritized 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.”
​Addressing the upcoming general elections, the religious scholars urged President Tinubu to step aside voluntarily to allow for fresh leadership capable of addressing Nigeria’s complex security and economic crises.
​They further advised Nigerian voters to hold the administration accountable at the polls if the government fails to immediately overhaul its security strategies and economic programs.
​”The President should refrain from contesting the 2027 election,” the communique concluded. “If he refuses to do so, it is incumbent upon citizens to reject his candidacy and allow those whom they believe can provide better leadership.”
​As of Wednesday afternoon, the Presidency and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) have yet to issue an official response to the clerics’ declaration.
