Dino Melaye Challenges Tinubu to Quranic Recitation Contest After Umrah Trip

Former Kogi West Senator Dino Melaye has challenged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to a Quranic recitation and citation contest following the President’s recent spiritual visit to Saudi Arabia, where he performed the lesser Hajj, known as Umrah.

Melaye issued the challenge on Monday, November 2, 2026, in a post on his X account, saying he was prepared to compete with Tinubu in citing passages from the Holy Quran immediately after the President’s return from Saudi Arabia.

“Now that Alhaji Bola Tinubu is in Umrah. Immediately he comes back, I challenge him to a Quranic citation competition with me. No one can mock God. SDM,” the former senator wrote.

The challenge has revived an earlier controversy between the two politicians over Tinubu’s knowledge of Islamic religious recitations during the 2023 presidential election campaign.

Melaye’s latest comments followed public attention surrounding Tinubu’s activities in Makkah, where the President performed Umrah and was granted permission to enter the Holy Ka’abah to offer prayers.

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The President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, had shared details of the visit, including Tinubu’s prayers for Nigeria and his appreciation to Saudi Arabia’s leadership for the privilege of entering the sacred structure.

Speaking about the spiritual experience, Tinubu said he had prayed for wisdom and resilience to continue serving Nigerians, expressing confidence that his prayers had been answered.

He also prayed for national unity, peace and prosperity, stressing the need for Nigerians of different religious backgrounds to coexist peacefully.

Tinubu further referred to Surah Aal-Imran, Verse 26 of the Quran, which speaks about Allah’s ultimate authority over power and sovereignty.

The President said political authority was a privilege granted by Almighty Allah and should be exercised responsibly in accordance with divine guidance and the interests of the people.

The renewed exchange recalls the controversy in January 2023, when Melaye publicly questioned Tinubu’s ability to recite passages from the Quran and circulated videos of what he described as a recitation challenge.

At the time, the disagreement attracted reactions from religious groups and political commentators, with some criticising the use of religious knowledge as a basis for questioning another person’s faith.

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), led by Professor Ishaq Akintola, also criticised Melaye’s earlier comments, arguing that a person’s religious identity should not be judged solely by their proficiency in Quranic recitation.

Melaye’s latest challenge has again brought the relationship between religion and political discourse into public discussion.

However, there has been no confirmed response from Tinubu accepting the proposed contest, while details of any formal competition, including its date, venue and judging arrangements, remain unknown.