As Nigerians prepare to go to the polls in 2027, many politicians have come out to declare interest in the various political offices.
Unlike in the past, there appears to be heightened interest among Muslim clerics in contesting for elective offices in this election cycle.
They appear to be heeding calls from their colleagues who have over the years, used the pulpit or their social media handles to propagate the need for Islamic clerics to join politics and seek to be voted to sanitise the system.
Sharing his perspective on the development, a Friday Sermon Columnist for PREMIUM TIMES newspaper, Ustaz Murtadha Gusau, said when Muslim clerics join the fray, the system would be sanitised.
“Respected brothers and sisters, on the other hand, and in the world we are living today, the Islamic scholars’ participation in politics is viewed as vital. Often obligatory, duty to ensure good governance, uphold justice, and protect Islamic values, particularly in democratic systems. While some people may argue that direct involvement in politics risks compromising a scholar’s religious authority, many contend that active participation by knowledgeable individuals is crucial to preventing oppression, corruption and marginalisation…,” Ustaz Murtadha wrote
21st CENTURY CHRONICLE takes a look at some of the Muslim clerics that have so far indicated interest in contesting the 2027 general elections.
Sheikh Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami – Gombe
First it was rumours then it became reality when former minister, Sheik Isa Pantami officially declared his interest in contesting the Gombe top seat on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Many had thought his interest was in contesting for any of the two National Assembly tickets but he has his eyes set on the number one seat in the state and has already commenced consultations.
Pantami recently began a tour of the 114 wards of the state as part of a move to localise his federal bureaucratic nature. He has also been reaching out to the executive council members and other APC stakeholders at the local, zonal and state levels to consolidate his candidature.
And the strategy seems to be working. Last week, Governor Inuwa Yahaya invited Sheikh Pantami to speak at a stakeholders’ meeting at the Government House. He was the only person known to have declared for the top seat that was invited to speak at the event. Pantami took to Twitter to thank the governor for that gesture.
While he has all the goodwill a politician needs to win an election, especially the financial muscle and the connections in both Gombe and Abuja and his incorruptible persona, Pantami also has baggage no politician would be happy to carry.
There are many audio and video clips of his extremist preaching style pre-2015.
Different religious sects, including Christians and Muslims from the Tijjaniya and Shiite will find it difficult to forgive Sheikh Pantami for what they see as his extremism.
Zoning will also be another issue that may affect Pantami’s chances. Gombe is one state that has not been strict on zoning the governorship seat possibly because it has 11 local government areas and many minority ethnic groups. The central area with only three areas; Gombe, Akko and Yamaltu Deba has produced all the APC governors namely: Danjuma Goje (Akko) and incumbent Inuwa Yahaya (Gombe LG).
It is already playing to Pantami’s disadvantage as stakeholders from the northern zone are clamouring for the ticket to shift there. Pantami is also from Gombe LG in the central zone.
Sheikh Ibrahim Khalil – Kano
The Kano-based Islamic scholar is a serial contender for the top seat in the state. He first set his eyes on the seat in 2011 when he tried to get the ticket of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) but couldn’t.
Known for his simple but sometimes controversial fatwas, Sheikh Khalil also contested for the same seat in 2023 under the African Democratic Congress (ADC). He has expressed interest to contest next year’s election under ADC.
While he has an advantage of being an old member of the party and its flag bearer in 2023, another thing that may work in his favour is his not being in disagreement with members of other Islamic sects. His stand in the Kano Council of Ulama may also be to his advantage.
Sheikh Khalil may however not find it easy to pick the ticket this time around with the entrance of former Kano governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwso who might want to decide who gets the ticket.
Ibrahim Aminu Little is also another strong contender for the ticket just as Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna, a former deputy governor of the state may make it difficult for the Islamic scholar.
Sheikh Bashir Ahmad Sani – Sokoto
Another Islamic cleric that has joined the list is Sheikh Bashir Ahmad Sani popularly known as Bashir Dan Hili. The Sokoto-born scholar specialises in the study of the Qur’an, Hadith and Tafseer and has over the years, garnered a lot of listeners due to his style of preaching, particularly the Qur’anic exegesis (Tafseer).
Sometime in March 2026, Bashir told his students during a preaching session that he would be contesting for the Sokoto state governorship and on the 11 of March, he posted his account details on Facebook for a crowd fund to be able to contest.
21st CENTURY CHRONICLE reports that from the time he declared his interesting in contesting for the top job, his mosque located in Koko Road in the ancient Sokoto city, has become a mecca of sorts, receiving an influx of people to attend his preaching sessions. Several political heavyweights including the immediate former deputy governor, Manniru Dan Iya, have also visited the religious scholar in the last few weeks.
While making his intention known, Bashir said he had toured several communities of the state and found out that endemic poverty and insecurity have taken a toll on the lives of the common man.
Despite his ambition and popularity, Sheikh Bashir doesn’t have the financial strength to campaign and swing party delegates to vote for him. For this reason, he may not get the ADC’s gubernatorial ticket especially with the bigwigs in the party, but should the party being led by former governor, Senator Aminu Waziri Tambuwal emerge victorious in the polls, the Islamic cleric will likely be getting a political appointment.
Sheikh Abdul Mudalib Muhammad – Zamfara
Islamic clerics have always been in the frontline in Zamfara politics since 1999. Over the years, several Islamic scholars campaigned for offices including governorship and council chairmen positions. Malam Ibrahim Wakkala, an Islamic scholar was commissioner (1999-2007), deputy governor (2011-2019) and later contested for governor.
Sheikh Aminu Aliyu was a one term local chairman, while both Sheikh Muhammad Tukur Jangebe and Sheikh Abdulahi Maharazu Mafara were commissioners for eight years. Maharazu was also a local government chairman.
So, it was not surprising when Sheikh Abdulmudallib Muhammad Auwal declared that he would be contesting for the top seat in 2027. The Gusau-born Islamic cleric has been vocal on the need for religious scholars to actively participate in politics.
Since at least 2022, he has used his pulpit to criticise some politicians in the state and to express dismay over the situation the state has found itself in.
In a recent interview posted on his official Facebook handle, Sheikh Abdulmudallib said he might not have the financial war chest to withstand the rigorous campaigns but insisted that “this year would not be all about money.”
He is popular especially among the youth and for a state that religion always plays a role in the politicking process, he may be in good stead.
Abdulmudallib will, however, find it difficult to get the ticket especially with the presence of Senator Kabiru Marafa and former inspector general of police, Mohammed D. Abubakar who are also eyeing the ADC’s guber ticket.
While he appears to be seriously pursuing his governorship ambition, many people in the state believe the Islamic cleric is “watering the political ground” to get himself a National Assembly ticket.
That should ordinarily be good enough for him but his Izala identity may constitute a problem for him especially coming from Gusau, a town with the largest concentration of Tijjaniya adherents in the state.
Ulamas’s children contesting
21st CENTURY CHRONICLE reports that not only the clerics themselves are aspiring for political offices. Some of them are also putting their children forward.
In Katsina State, Huzaifa Yakubu Musa, the son of renowned Islamic cleric, Sheikh Yakubu Musa Hassan, has declared interest to contest for the State House of Assembly to represent Katsina.
Huzaifa is an ICT expert and founded the Kirkira Innovation Hub. He also owns Huzex Logistics Links. His father, the Sheikh is a known APC apologist though he has been criticising President Bola Tinubu lately. He is known to have huge influence on both former governor Aminu Bello Masari and incumbent Dikko Umar Radda, who may influence his getting the party ticket but other than that, being a political novice, he will have veteran politicians to contend with in the fight for the APC ticket.
Mubarak Ahmad Gumi, son of Sheikh Ahmad Gumi and grandson of Sheikh Abubakar Mahmud Gumi is also seeking the APC ticket to represent Doka/Gabasawa at the Kaduna State House of Assembly. Mubarak is a legislative aide to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas. A graduate of Management Information System from the Sharjah University, United Arab Emirates, Mubarak said his work as a legislative aide has provided him with the requisite experience to seek for the ticket.
