Over 1,000 northern Islamic clerics warn Tinubu to step aside from 2027 election
More than 1,000 Islamic clerics in Kano urge Tinubu not to contest the 2027 election, citing economic hardship, insecurity and Nigeria’s growing brain drain.
President Bola Tinubu's economic reforms, including the removal of fuel subsidies and the floating of the naira, have been credited by his administration with stabilising government finances but have also triggered sharp rises in the cost of living, fuel and transport costs, and food inflation since 2023. The hardship has fuelled recurring protests and criticism from civil society groups, labour unions and religious leaders across the country, alongside persistent insecurity in parts of the north and south that predates the current administration.
This latest intervention stands out for its scale and source: a large bloc of clerics organised in Kano, a major hub of Islamic scholarship and political influence in northern Nigeria, where religious leaders have historically shaped public opinion and voting patterns. The outlets agree the clerics are demanding either a reversal of current economic policies or an end to Tinubu's re-election ambitions in 2027, framing hardship, insecurity and brain drain as their core grievances. None of the reports yet specify the clerics' group affiliation, its spokesperson, or how the presidency has responded.