A mosque committee in Bauchi metropolis has removed Imam Dahiru Abubakar after he repeatedly urged worshippers to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027, triggering a dispute over the use of religious institutions for partisan political activities.

Abubakar served as the imam of Masjid Abdullahi Bin Zubbair in Madina Quarters, Bauchi, where he reportedly used sermons delivered after obligatory prayers to defend Tinubu’s administration against criticism over insecurity and economic hardship.

The cleric argued that the country’s challenges should not be blamed entirely on the President, describing insecurity and economic difficulties as problems requiring divine intervention, prayer and greater fear of God.

He also urged worshippers to give Tinubu another opportunity in the 2027 presidential election, maintaining that the country’s problems could not be resolved simply by blaming political leaders.

The disagreement reportedly intensified after Abubakar repeated his political messages following the early morning Subhi prayer on Sunday, October 18, 2026, despite previous warnings from the mosque committee.

Abubakar defended his position, saying his preaching was intended to encourage Nigerians to pray for the country rather than continually blame leaders for its difficulties.

“My preaching centred on telling people to embrace fear of God and stop blaming leaders for the insecurity,” he said, according to reports.

He cited security challenges in other African countries, including Sudan, Chad and Mali, questioning whether Tinubu could be held responsible for crises in those nations.

The imam maintained that he had encouraged worshippers to stop criticising Tinubu over insecurity and economic hardship and to support his administration for another term.

However, the mosque committee said the decision to remove him was not based solely on his political views but also on his alleged attempts to turn the mosque into a venue for political gatherings.

The committee’s chairman, Imam Abubakar Jibrin, confirmed the removal, explaining that the management had cautioned Abubakar several times against bringing partisan political activities into the mosque.

Jibrin alleged that the imam had been gathering people inside and outside the mosque to discuss politics despite repeated warnings. He said the committee considered the practice inappropriate for a place primarily dedicated to worship.

“We vehemently rejected the use of the mosque for political meetings,” Jibrin said, adding that the committee had repeatedly appealed to the imam to stop the practice.

According to the chairman, the committee’s position was that political meetings and campaign activities should take place at designated political venues rather than within mosque premises.

Jibrin also disclosed that the committee had convened discussions to address the matter before deciding to remove Abubakar. He indicated that the decision was final and that the former imam would not be reinstated.

Another major point of disagreement was the reported proposal to rename the mosque after Tinubu.

Jibrin said Abubakar had pushed for the mosque’s name to be changed from Masjid Abdullahi Bin Zubbair to Masjid Imam Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The committee unanimously rejected the proposal, insisting that the mosque belonged to the community and that its name should remain unchanged.

The chairman maintained that the committee was not campaigning for or against any presidential candidate but was determined to prevent the mosque from becoming a platform for partisan political mobilisation.

He suggested that anyone wishing to use a mosque exclusively for political activities should establish or acquire a separate facility rather than impose such an agenda on a community-owned place of worship.

The development has drawn attention to the debate over the role of religious leaders in Nigeria’s political process as preparations for the 2027 general elections gather momentum.

While religious leaders have the right to discuss governance and national challenges, the Bauchi incident highlights the tensions that can arise when sermons are perceived as direct endorsements of a political candidate.

Tinubu’s re-election ambition has generated differing reactions among religious leaders and political groups, with supporters defending his administration and critics pointing to insecurity, economic hardship and the rising cost of living.

The Bauchi mosque committee’s decision reflects its stated position that the mosque should remain focused on worship rather than serve as a venue for political meetings or campaign activities.

For Abubakar, however, his defence of Tinubu was rooted in his belief that prayer and faith were essential to addressing Nigeria’s challenges and that the President should not be blamed for every difficulty confronting the country.

The dispute leaves the mosque’s management and the former imam with sharply different views about the boundaries between religious preaching, political expression and the administration of community-owned places of worship.

Bauchi Mosque Removes Imam After Tinubu Campaign, Rejects Proposal to Rename Mosque


Vice-President Kashim Shettima has challenged state governments to take responsibility for addressing electricity problems in their jurisdictions, urging them to stop depending on the Federal Government for solutions and establish functional power markets.

Shettima made the call on Wednesday while declaring open the National Stakeholders’ Workshop on the Electricity Act 2023 at the State House Banquet Hall, Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Represented by the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Senator Ibrahim Hadejia, the Vice-President said Nigeria’s ambition to build a competitive industrial economy would remain constrained unless electricity reforms delivered reliable power to businesses, households and public institutions.

He said the Electricity Act 2023 had created an opportunity for states to decentralise electricity governance and develop power markets that reflect their economic needs and available energy resources.

“Electricity supply must become a shared responsibility, pursued with innovation and accountability across the Federation. Our States must shed the habit of waiting for Abuja to provide every answer,” he said.

Shettima identified the country’s diverse energy resources as an opportunity for states to expand electricity access and attract investment. He cited the solar energy potential of Sokoto, Borno and Katsina states, the gas resources of Delta, Rivers and Bayelsa states, and the hydroelectric opportunities in Niger and Kebbi states.

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He urged governors to harness these resources to support agriculture, manufacturing, healthcare, education and other economic activities.

The Vice-President also warned that passing laws alone would not improve electricity supply, insisting that states must establish the institutions needed to regulate and manage their electricity markets effectively.

“Legislation cannot implement itself. States yet to act must begin their legislative and institutional preparations promptly. They need to establish functional electricity regulatory bodies with technical competence and capacity,” he said.

To accelerate implementation, Shettima proposed a voluntary National Electricity Reform Peer Review and Implementation Framework involving the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), the Federal Ministry of Power, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and state electricity regulators.

The proposed framework would allow states to exchange experiences, strengthen regulatory capacity and assess their progress in electricity market development, investment readiness, consumer protection and access to electricity.

He said periodic reviews would help identify implementation challenges, encourage technical assistance and enable states to learn from jurisdictions that had made progress, without undermining their constitutional powers.

Shettima further stressed that government funding alone could not finance the transformation required in the electricity sector, calling for greater participation by private investors.

He said transparent licensing procedures, predictable regulations, commercially viable electricity markets, investment safeguards and credible dispute-resolution mechanisms would help build investor confidence.

The Vice-President also called for stronger consumer protection, warning against arbitrary billing, poor service delivery and unfair commercial practices. He maintained that electricity operators must be held accountable for the quality of service provided to consumers.

“The final verdict on this law will be delivered wherever a Nigerian reaches for a switch,” he said, stressing that the success of the reforms should ultimately be measured by improvements in electricity supply and the daily lives of Nigerians.

Meanwhile, the Director-General of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Abdulateef Shittu, said the forum was working on a standard tariff framework for state electricity markets, with the aim of protecting consumers while encouraging investment.

The Head of Compliance at NERC, Hauwa Yakubu, disclosed that the commission had issued regulatory transfers to 17 states, allowing them to assume regulatory responsibilities for electricity markets within their territories.

She said the commission was supporting emerging state regulators through technical engagement and peer-to-peer training.

Signed into law by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in June 2023, the Electricity Act 2023 provides a framework for states to regulate electricity generation, transmission and distribution within their jurisdictions, subject to the applicable constitutional and statutory provisions. The national regulator retains oversight of electricity matters that fall within federal jurisdiction.

The law is expected to encourage competition, attract investment and expand electricity access. However, its impact will depend on effective implementation, functioning regulatory institutions and the ability of state governments to develop sustainable electricity markets.