Bauchi Imam Removed After Using Sermons to Back Tinubu Re-election

Imam Dahiru Abubakar's removal from a Madina quarters mosque in Bauchi metropolis stemmed from recurring disputes over his injection of political content into religious observances. Following obligatory prayers, the imam delivered multiple sermons in which he championed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's administration and appealed to congregants to support the president's 2027 re-election bid.

Persistent political messaging continued even after the mosque committee issued earlier cautions to Abubakar. The final trigger occurred when, following the Sunday early morning Subhi prayer, he again delivered such a sermon.

Committee members then moved to remove him from his post. Through his preaching, Abubakar had argued that President Tinubu should not be held accountable for Nigeria's insecurity and economic hardships, describing these difficulties instead as end times manifestations.

However, interpretations of the imam's actual role differ markedly across accounts. While some sources indicate he held an imam position that he lost, residents of Madina quarters challenged this narrative.

They insisted Abubakar possessed no substantive imam role, serving only to lead prayers when the substantive imam was unavailable. Abubakar himself claimed removal came after occasionally leading prayers and delivering sermons at the neighbourhood mosque.

This episode highlights tension between partisan engagement and the sanctity of religious spaces. The committee's action reflected apprehension that political campaigns ought not infiltrate places of worship.

Multiple earlier warnings preceded his removal, indicating that prior interventions seeking to stop political discourse during prayer periods had proven unsuccessful.