MURIC Questions Atiku on Muslim Rights, Seeks Clarity Ahead of 2027 Election

MURIC Questions Atiku on Muslim Rights, Seeks Clarity Ahead of 2027 Election

A faith-based civil liberties organisation, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has formally engaged former Vice President Atiku Abubakar on the place of Muslims in governance, asking what Nigerian Muslims should expect if he emerges president in 2027.

In a press release dated January 8, 2026, and signed by its Founder and Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, MURIC said the engagement was prompted by what it described as the long-standing marginalisation of Muslims in Nigeria, regardless of whether the country is governed by Christian or Muslim leaders.

Addressing Atiku—former PDP presidential candidate and a key figure in the African Democratic Congress (ADC)—the group said Nigeria’s administrative and cultural systems have remained largely structured along Christian colonial heritage, leading to the denial of several civil liberties to Muslims.

MURIC argued that many Muslim politicians and leaders are either unaware of the systemic challenges facing Muslims or are easily silenced through blackmail and political pressure, thereby failing to address issues affecting the Muslim community.

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“As a Muslim steering his political ship towards the 2027 coast, we find it mandatory to engage you in dialogue concerning the current plight of Nigerian Muslims and their hopes and aspirations in a just, united and democratic Nigeria,” the statement said.

The organisation stressed that successive governments, including those led by Muslims, have ignored Muslim demands, attributing this to what it called an anti-Muslim system inherited from colonial governance and sustained over the years.

MURIC identified restructuring, as it affects Muslims, as the central issue, noting that its advocacy does not seek to deprive Christians of their rights but rather to ensure justice, equity and balance between adherents of both faiths.

According to the group, its demands are centred on three key areas: proportionate representation, equal rights, and freedom of religion. It maintained that Muslims constitute a significant portion of Nigeria’s population and possess qualified individuals deserving of meaningful inclusion in government appointments.

The group also raised specific concerns, including the call for the first day of the Islamic New Year to be declared a public holiday—similar to January 1—and renewed its demand for recognition of the Friday Question, which it said remains unresolved.

“We want to know if, as a Muslim, you are prepared to approach these issues clinically and objectively,” MURIC stated, adding that Atiku could respond publicly through the media or privately through dialogue.

The organisation concluded by reaffirming its respect for the former vice president and its openness to engagement, as discussions around the 2027 presidential election begin to gather momentum.

MURIC Questions Atiku on Muslim Rights, Seeks Clarity Ahead of 2027 Election