The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, didn’t endorse any presidential candidate for the 2027 elections because it is against the longstanding culture of the traditional and religious institutions he represents.
This was revealed in a statement by the Sultan Media on Tuesday, while reacting to news reports claiming that the Sokoto monarch had endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The statement signed by Prince Bashir Adefaka, the media team described the report asfalse and misleading, insisting that the Sultan, as a father to all Nigerians, does not support or campaign for any political candidate.
The statement said the Sultan couldn’t have made such a declaration, either publicly or privately, and urged Nigerians to disregard what it described as an attempt to drag the revered traditional ruler into partisan politics.
“Our simple response to the report is that it is not possible for the Sultan, as the father of all, to make such a statement, either publicly or in any other forum,” the statement read.
It said the Sultan’s role as both a traditional ruler and spiritual leader requires him to remain impartial while offering guidance and blessings to all Nigerians, regardless of their political affiliations.
It stated: “Let it be made clear once again that the institutions of monarchy and religion led by the Sultan are institutions of a father figure. As such, His Eminence cannot but remain within the purview of that role by offering fatherly, royal and spiritual blessings, as well as guidance, to Nigerian politicians who seek his counsel and blessings.
“The Sultan’s doors cannot be shut against anyone who comes to him, regardless of political affiliation or persuasion. His Eminence has consistently demonstrated that he is the father of all and will continue to relate with all Nigerians without discrimination.”
The statement urged the public not to associate the Sultan with the campaign or candidacy of any individual ahead of the 2027 elections, stressing that the monarch remains committed to fostering peace, unity, stability, and harmonious coexistence across the country.
It also appealed to journalists and social media users to verify information before sharing it, warning against the spread of misinformation capable of misleading the public and dragging respected traditional and religious institutions into political controversies.
As President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, the Sultan has consistently projected himself as a non-partisan national figure, receiving politicians across party lines while advocating peace, dialogue, and national unity rather than political endorsements.
