Imam Dahiru Abubakar, who led a mosque in the Madina quarters of Bauchi metropolis, has been removed from his position after he campaigned for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election. The mosque committee took the decision after he repeated the appeal following the early morning (Subhi) prayer on Sunday. A source said the committee had earlier set up a panel when he did the same the previous weekend.
The removal turns on a single argument: whether a mosque can host politics. The committee says it cannot, and it says it warned him repeatedly.
According to a source, the imam urged worshippers to back the president. “He would tell the congregation after prayer that Tinubu did not cause insecurity and he deserved to be reelected,” the source said.
Abubakar confirmed the substance of his preaching to Daily Trust. He said he told congregants that the president was not the cause of hardship. Instead, he blamed what he called an “end times phenomenon.”
“I have been preaching to the people to stop castigating President Tinubu for the insecurity and economic challenges,” he said. “My preaching centred on telling people to embrace fear of God and stop blaming leaders for the insecurity, particularly President Tinubu.”
Imam Abubakar Jibrin, chairman of the mosque committee, confirmed the removal. He said campaigning was only part of the problem.
“Our major challenge with him was not only his campaign for Tinubu but the way and manner he gathered many people in front of the mosque and sometimes entered the mosque purposely to discuss politics,” Jibrin said.
He added that the committee cautioned him more than once. “We vehemently rejected the use of the mosque for political meetings,” he said.
Jibrin said the imam also pressed to rename the mosque after the president. He wanted Masjid Abdullahi Bin Zubbair changed to “Masjid Imam Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”
All committee members refused. “This mosque belongs to the community,” Jibrin said, adding that the name stays as it is.
The committee has ruled out reinstatement. “He should go and build his personal mosque, or politicians should go buy a mosque for him,” Jibrin said.
He insisted the committee opposes no candidate. “Our prayer is to Allah to choose the best for the country,” he said.
The case puts a spotlight on the boundary between faith and campaign season in Bauchi. As 2027 approaches, similar disputes may surface elsewhere. For now, one pulpit has changed hands, and the committee says its mosque will host worship only.
