Tinubu Support or Mosque Dispute? Bauchi Residents, NUJ Challenge ‘Imam’s Removal’ Report

Residents of Madina Quarters in Bauchi metropolis, the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Bauchi State Council, and an Islamic scholar have challenged reports alleging that a man was removed as an imam for supporting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The controversy involves Dahiru Abubakar, popularly known as Jejiwe Danmalam, who claimed that his support for Tinubu and his sermons defending the President contributed to his removal from a neighbourhood mosque.

However, residents familiar with the matter have disputed his description as the mosque’s substantive imam, insisting that he only led prayers when the recognised religious leader was unavailable.

The Bauchi State Council of the NUJ has also questioned the verification of the reports, saying its preliminary inquiries found no evidence that Abubakar had been appointed or served as an imam in any mosque within Bauchi metropolis or elsewhere in the state.

Similarly, Islamic scholar Sheikh Dr Ibrahim Adam Disina said a social media post he intended as a joke contributed to the publication of reports about the alleged removal.

The differing accounts have raised questions about the circumstances surrounding the dispute and the accuracy of reports linking it directly to Abubakar’s support for Tinubu.

Some residents of Madina Quarters challenged Abubakar’s claim that he was removed from his position as imam, maintaining that he was not the mosque’s substantive religious leader.

A resident familiar with the matter, Ibrahim Muhammad, described Abubakar as a comedian and controversial figure who, according to him, had associated with politicians from different political parties.

Muhammad also alleged that Abubakar had previously criticised Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress over economic hardship before recently declaring support for the President.

He questioned whether the disagreement was primarily about Abubakar’s political position, suggesting that the controversy might be connected to efforts to attract public attention as political activities ahead of the 2027 elections gather momentum.

However, no independent evidence was provided to establish that the controversy was deliberately created for publicity.

Another associate of Abubakar, who lives in the neighbourhood, also disputed the claim that he was the mosque’s substantive imam, saying he occasionally led prayers when the regular imam was absent.

Adamu Garba, another resident of the area who said he lived along the street near Barden Gabas School, where the mosque was reportedly located, also questioned the description of Abubakar as the mosque’s imam.

The residents urged journalists and members of the public to establish the facts before circulating reports involving religious institutions and political disagreements.

Despite the residents’ objections, Abubakar maintained that he was removed from the neighbourhood mosque because of his support for Tinubu.

He explained that the facility was a small neighbourhood mosque where he sometimes led prayers and delivered sermons, rather than a Jumu’ah mosque where Friday congregational prayers are held.

Abubakar said he had been urging worshippers to stop blaming Tinubu exclusively for Nigeria’s insecurity and economic difficulties.

According to him, his sermons emphasised the need for prayers, fear of Allah and improved personal conduct, while arguing that the country’s challenges could not be attributed entirely to the President.

He also said he had encouraged people to support Tinubu for another term in 2027.

Abubakar identified a proposal to rename the mosque after the President as another source of disagreement with members of the mosque’s management committee.

He said he had suggested changing the mosque’s name to “Sheikh Imam Bola Ahmed Tinubu Mosque”, a proposal that was rejected.

Abubakar maintained that his support for the President was genuine and denied suggestions that he was seeking financial benefits or publicity through his political position.

The chairman of the mosque committee, Imam Abubakar Jibrin, had earlier confirmed that the committee disagreed with Abubakar over his alleged involvement in political activities around the mosque.

Jibrin said the committee’s concerns extended beyond the man’s support for Tinubu to what he described as attempts to turn the mosque and its surroundings into a venue for political discussions.

According to the committee chairman, Abubakar had been cautioned against gathering people in front of the mosque and sometimes inside it to discuss politics.

He said the committee opposed the use of the mosque as a platform for political mobilisation, stressing that political activities should take place through political parties and at appropriate venues.

Jibrin also confirmed that the committee rejected the proposal to rename the mosque after Tinubu, arguing that the facility belonged to the community and that its identity should not be changed at the insistence of an individual.

He maintained that the committee was not opposed to Tinubu or any other political candidate, adding that its position was to preserve the mosque as a place of worship.

The committee’s account presents the dispute as involving the use and management of the mosque, while Abubakar maintains that his support for the President contributed to his removal.

Sheikh Dr Ibrahim Adam Disina, an Islamic scholar in Bauchi, also challenged the reports, saying a social media post he intended as a joke contributed to the controversy.

In a letter to media organisations that published the reports, Disina questioned their verification processes and criticised the publication of the allegation as established fact.

He argued that reports involving religious leaders and places of worship required careful investigation before publication.

The scholar expressed surprise that media organisations he expected to uphold professional standards had relied on information he said originated from social media without adequate verification.

Disina urged journalists to exercise caution when reporting sensitive matters involving religion and politics, warning against allowing unverified claims to mislead the public.

His position adds another dimension to the controversy, particularly concerning the circumstances in which the initial reports emerged and the extent to which the claim was independently verified.

The Bauchi State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists has also cautioned journalists against publishing unverified reports alleging that an imam was removed for campaigning for Tinubu’s re-election.

In a statement signed by its chairman, Isah Garba Gadau, and secretary, Isiyaka Ismail Wunti, the council said its preliminary inquiries found no evidence that Abubakar had been appointed or served as an imam in any mosque in Bauchi State.

The council also observed that the reports did not adequately identify the mosque authorities responsible for the alleged removal or establish the circumstances behind the purported decision.

It urged journalists to contact the relevant mosque leadership or management committee and seek independent confirmation before publishing claims of this nature.

The NUJ warned that unverified reports linking religion with partisan politics could fuel misunderstanding, heighten tensions and threaten public peace, particularly as political activities gather momentum ahead of the 2027 general elections.

It further stressed the need for journalists to distinguish verified facts from allegations, personal opinions and political claims.

The council reaffirmed its commitment to press freedom and responsible journalism, emphasising the importance of accuracy, fairness, objectivity and accountability.

The controversy has produced competing accounts of Abubakar’s role at the mosque and the reasons for the disagreement with its management committee. While Abubakar insists that his support for Tinubu contributed to his removal, some residents dispute his claim to the position of substantive imam. The mosque committee, meanwhile, says its objections included alleged political discussions on the premises and the proposed renaming of the community mosque.

Disina’s account of the social media post and the NUJ’s concerns have further highlighted the importance of establishing the origin and accuracy of information before presenting it as fact.

As political conversations surrounding the 2027 general elections intensify, the incident underscores the need for responsible reporting on disputes involving religious institutions and political affiliations. For now, the central claims remain contested, and the allegation that Abubakar was removed solely for supporting Tinubu should not be treated as an established fact.

Tinubu Support or Mosque Dispute? Bauchi Residents, NUJ Challenge ‘Imam’s Removal’Report