The Jigawa State chapter of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has condemned the recent endorsement of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term by over 500 Islamic scholars, clerics, and preachers who convened in Dutse at the weekend, calling the move unfortunate and contrary to Islamic principles. The party stated that such endorsements undermine religious neutrality and misrepresent the teachings of Islam. In a statement signed by Ambassador Nuraddeen Suleiman Jidawa, ADC Youth Ambassador for the North and Deputy Chairman of the Jigawa State chapter, the party urged religious leaders to safeguard their moral authority and independence from political influence.
The ADC specifically criticized the communiqué released after the gathering, particularly its claim that the Tinubu administration initiated the Kano-Dutse/Kano-Maradi railway project. The party insisted that the project was approved and awarded under former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2021, challenging the current APC-led federal government to present evidence of major capital projects it has launched and substantially executed in Jigawa State. This assertion highlights the ADC’s broader critique of the administration’s developmental record in the region.
On security, the ADC rejected assertions of significant improvement, especially in the North-West, citing recent incidents of kidnapping and terrorist attacks in Kaduna, Sokoto, and Zamfara. The party referenced an August 24 Al Jazeera report on a video allegedly showing hundreds of abducted worshippers held by armed men following a mass abduction in Niger State. These events, according to the ADC, make it irresponsible to portray Nigeria’s security situation as under control or resolved.
The party also blamed the removal of the petrol subsidy for escalating transportation, food, and living costs across the country. It urged Nigerians to evaluate the government based on tangible outcomes in security, economic welfare, employment, infrastructure development, transparency, and accountability. While respecting individual clerics’ right to support political candidates, the ADC emphasized that their endorsements should not be framed as religious edicts or representations of the entire Muslim community in Nigeria.
The ADC called on Islamic scholars to remain politically neutral and avoid allowing access to power or financial incentives to compromise their credibility. The party stressed that religious leadership must serve as a moral compass, not a tool for political legitimization. As Nigeria approaches critical electoral decisions, the ADC’s stance underscores growing concerns about the intersection of religion and politics in shaping public opinion.
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