By Ibrahim Nasiru
The growing mobilisation of Islamic scholars and women Ulamas in parts of Northern Nigeria for prayers in support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid has once again brought the intersection of religion and politics into public debate.
In Zamfara State, thousands of Islamic scholars reportedly gathered at the residence of Senator Abdul’aziz Yari in Talata Mafara for a special prayer session centred on peace, national unity and the success of Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 elections. Reports put the number of participants at more than 2,000, although estimates have varied.
A similar mobilisation involving women Ulamas was also reportedly held in Kaduna, with prayers offered for the continuation of the Tinubu administration beyond 2027.
Prayer occupies an important place in the religious and social life of millions of Nigerians. However, the increasing use of religious gatherings to mobilise political support raises questions about the proper relationship between faith, political participation and accountability.
In a democracy, political leaders seeking re-election are ultimately expected to present their records to the electorate. Issues such as security, economic conditions, infrastructure, employment, food prices and the general welfare of citizens naturally form part of the assessment voters make when deciding who should govern them.
Religious support, endorsements or prayer gatherings cannot, by themselves, replace such an assessment.
The controversy surrounding the Zamfara gathering became even more striking after six Islamic clerics were abducted while travelling towards Talata Mafara for the prayer session. The Zamfara State Police Command confirmed the abduction and said efforts were underway to rescue the victims.
The Nigerian Army, however, clarified that the clerics were not abducted at Senator Yari’s residence, as some initial reports suggested. According to the Army, the victims were intercepted while travelling from the Sububu Forest axis in Bakura Local Government Area towards Talata Mafara.
The incident nevertheless exposed the continuing security challenges confronting residents of Zamfara and other parts of the North-West.
It also raises an important question: how should political leadership be evaluated when citizens, including religious leaders, remain vulnerable to kidnapping and other forms of violence?
The answer cannot simply be found in the number of people attending political prayer gatherings.
Religious institutions have historically played an important role in promoting morality, social cohesion and accountability. Their influence can be particularly significant in communities where clerics command considerable respect.
That influence, however, can also become problematic when religious platforms are used primarily to advance partisan political interests.
There is nothing inherently wrong with religious leaders participating in politics as citizens.
They, like every other Nigerian, have the constitutional right to hold political opinions and support candidates of their choice. The concern arises when individual political preferences are presented as though they represent the collective position of an entire religious community.
Political leaders, therefore, should be prepared to defend their records beyond religious endorsements and ceremonial gatherings.
For the Tinubu administration, the coming electoral cycle will provide an opportunity for the government to present its record on economic reforms, security, infrastructure, employment and other areas of national development. Supporters of the administration can point to policies and achievements they believe justify continuity, while critics will continue to raise concerns about the impact of economic hardship and insecurity on citizens.
Ultimately, those competing claims should be subjected to evidence and public scrutiny.
Nigeria’s religious communities also have a responsibility to preserve the independence and moral authority of their institutions.
Mosques and churches can pray for the nation, its leaders and its people while simultaneously demanding transparency, accountability and effective governance.
Prayer should not be presented as an alternative to competent administration.
Nigeria possesses significant natural resources, agricultural potential and a large pool of human talent. Translating those resources into improved living standards requires effective institutions, sound policies, investment and sustained implementation.
As the country approaches the 2027 elections, voters will have the opportunity to examine the records and promises of political parties and candidates.
The ballot box should therefore remain a place where citizens independently assess competing claims about governance.
Religious gatherings may provide spiritual support and communal solidarity, but political leadership must ultimately be judged by tangible outcomes: safer communities, stronger institutions, economic opportunity, improved infrastructure and better living conditions.
Prayers may seek divine intervention, but governance still requires human responsibility and measurable performance.
Ibrahim Nasiru is a Public Affairs Analyst
