A mosque committee in Bauchi metropolis has removed an imam, Dahiru Abubakar, over allegations that he repeatedly used religious activities to campaign for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027.

Abubakar was reportedly removed from his position at a mosque in Madina Quarters after allegedly using sermons delivered following obligatory prayers to defend Tinubu’s administration and urge worshippers to support his bid for a second term.

The decision followed complaints that the imam continued the practice despite previous warnings from the mosque committee.

His latest alleged act reportedly occurred after the early morning Subhi prayer on Sunday.

A source familiar with the development said Abubakar had repeatedly told worshippers that Tinubu was not responsible for the country’s insecurity and deserved another term in office.

The source added that a committee was constituted after the imam allegedly repeated the conduct the previous weekend, leading to his removal.

Speaking on the development, Abubakar confirmed that he had been urging worshippers not to blame Tinubu for Nigeria’s security and economic challenges, which he described as an “end times phenomenon”.

He said his sermons focused on encouraging people to fear God, pray for the country and refrain from blaming political leaders for insecurity.

“I have been preaching to the people to stop castigating President Tinubu for the insecurity and economic challenges. They prepared to vote for him and give him another mandate in 2027 to continue his mandate,” he said.

Abubakar explained that he had cited security crises in other African countries, including Sudan, Chad and Mali, to argue that Nigeria’s challenges were not unique to the Tinubu administration.

He maintained that his message emphasised faith and divine intervention, but acknowledged that the approach had displeased the mosque committee.

Confirming the imam’s removal, the chairman of the mosque committee, Imam Abubakar Jibrin, said the decision was prompted by repeated attempts to introduce partisan politics into the mosque’s activities.

Jibrin explained that the committee’s concerns extended beyond Abubakar’s support for Tinubu to his alleged gathering of people outside the mosque and using the premises to discuss political matters.

“Our major challenge with him was not only his campaign for Tinubu but the way and manner he gathered many people in front of the mosque and sometimes entered the mosque purposely to discuss politics,” he said.

According to the committee chairman, Abubakar had been cautioned several times against turning the place of worship into a platform for political mobilisation.

He said the committee believed that the mosque should be dedicated to the worship of Allah and that political activities should instead take place at the offices of the relevant political parties.

Jibrin stated that the committee had repeatedly warned the imam, but he allegedly failed to heed its advice.

The chairman also disclosed that Abubakar had proposed renaming the mosque from Abdullahi Bin Zubbair Mosque to Masjid Imam Bola Ahmed Tinubu Mosque.

The proposal was rejected by the committee, which insisted that the mosque belonged to the community and should not be named after a political figure.

“All the committee members said ‘no’ because the mosque belongs to the community,” Jibrin said, adding that the mosque would retain its existing name, Masjid Abdullahi Bin Zubbair.

He further maintained that Abubakar would not be reinstated, suggesting that he could establish his own mosque if he wished to pursue his preferred approach.

Jibrin, however, stressed that the committee was not opposed to any presidential candidate or political party.

He said the committee’s position was that the mosque should remain free from partisan political activities, adding that its members would pray for Allah to choose the best leader for Nigeria, regardless of party affiliation.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Anambra State has condemned an alleged attack on its House of Representatives candidate for Idemili North/Idemili South Federal Constituency, Hon. Nnamdi Ifebi, and some party supporters, calling on security agencies to investigate the incident.

The party alleged that suspected thugs armed with dangerous weapons attacked a meeting organised by Ifebi for party members and supporters in Obosi on Tuesday evening.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the ADC State Publicity Secretary and Head of Media and Strategic Communications, Comrade Linus Anagboso, said the attackers disrupted the gathering and assaulted party members.

Anagboso further alleged that the assailants vandalised a campaign vehicle belonging to Ifebi and dispossessed party members and supporters of their valuables and empowerment items distributed at the event.

Describing the incident as unacceptable, the party said political competition should be based on ideas, character and service rather than intimidation, violence and destruction of property.

The ADC called on security agencies to conduct an impartial investigation, identify those responsible for the alleged attack and ensure that anyone found culpable is prosecuted in accordance with the law.

“Political competition must be defined by ideas, character, and service to the people—not intimidation, violence, or destruction of property,” the statement read.

The party also appealed to political stakeholders and supporters across Anambra State to remain calm, reject retaliation and respect the rights of citizens to participate freely in the democratic process.

“Political differences must never become grounds for violence. Our democracy must be protected, and the law must prevail,” Anagboso stated.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Anambra State Police Command, Superintendent of Police Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed that the incident had been reported to the command.

Ikenga, however, disclosed that the traditional ruler of Obosi, Igwe Chidubem Iweka, had intervened in the matter, as the dispute reportedly involved two individuals aligned with different political camps.

“The incident was reported to the police command, but the traditional ruler of Obosi, Igwe Chidubem Iweka, has waded into the matter because it involves two brothers who are in different political camps.

“As I am speaking to you now, the two camps are in the palace of the traditional ruler in Obosi holding a meeting with the traditional ruler. So, the command has decided to wait for the outcome of the intervention of the Igwe,” Ikenga told DAILY GAZETTE.

The police spokesperson’s account indicates that the parties were meeting at the traditional ruler’s palace following the report, while the command awaited the outcome of the intervention.

The ADC has nevertheless called for an impartial investigation into the alleged attack and urged political actors to resolve their differences peacefully.

Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu, has presented a proposed budget of N987.8 billion for the 2027 fiscal year to the state House of Assembly, with N246.1 billion earmarked for infrastructure development.

The proposal, tagged “Budget of Consolidation and Renewed Hope”, was presented to lawmakers in Calabar on Wednesday.

The budget estimates provide N708.43 billion for capital expenditure, representing 71.72 per cent of the total, while recurrent expenditure accounts for N279.38 billion, or 28.28 per cent.

The total proposed expenditure stands at N987,808,089,235.92, representing a 2.57 per cent increase over the 2026 budget.

Otu said the estimates were prepared within the framework of the state’s 2027–2029 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework to consolidate the achievements of his administration.

He explained that the significant allocation to infrastructure and road development was intended to sustain progress on more than 608 kilometres of roads constructed across the state’s three senatorial districts, alongside rural electrification and other critical projects.

“The substantial capital allocation reflects our commitment to prioritise infrastructure, human capital development and productive investment to stimulate economic activities,” the governor said.

Addressing the state’s debt profile, Otu maintained that his administration had not obtained any fresh domestic or foreign loans since assuming office in 2023.

He attributed the existing debt burden to liabilities inherited by his government and the impact of naira devaluation.

“I cannot, and will never mortgage the future of our children with unsustainable loans,” he declared.

Other major sectoral allocations in the proposed budget include N99.6 billion for education, N85.4 billion for healthcare, N28.2 billion for agriculture and N21.8 billion for aviation.

The governor also highlighted his administration’s investments in five aircraft for the state fleet, 730 electric vehicles and the Federal Government’s approval of the proposed $3.5 billion Bakassi Deep Seaport project.

Earlier, the Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Elvert Ayambem, described the governor’s appearance before the legislature as more than a constitutional obligation under Section 121 of the 1999 Constitution.

According to him, the presentation demonstrated respect for democratic institutions, the separation of powers, transparency and accountability.

Ayambem said the working relationship between the executive and legislative arms under the state government’s “People First” mantra had supported progress in infrastructure, agriculture, tourism, healthcare, education and human capital development.

He added that the 10th Assembly had passed critical legislation and carried out oversight activities on the implementation of the 2026 budget.

The Speaker also recalled the presentation of Cross River State’s experiences with climate change at COP17 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, in August 2026.

He commended Otu’s reported zero-tolerance approach to cultism and kidnapping, saying the improvement in security had helped restore confidence and made the state more attractive to investors.

Ayambem expressed confidence in the governor’s political future, assuring him of the Assembly’s support for his re-election bid in February 2027.

He further assured the governor that lawmakers would subject the 2027 budget estimates to thorough scrutiny through engagements with ministries, departments and agencies to promote balanced development across the state.

The Speaker, however, appealed for support to enable Assembly members to attend international conferences and called for urgent intervention to renovate the Assembly Complex and Assembly Village, which he described as being in a deplorable condition.

Oyo State Governor and presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Seyi Makinde, has called for a departure from the politics of rotational leadership, unveiling a “Reset Nigeria” agenda aimed at addressing the country’s economic, security and governance challenges ahead of the 2027 general election.

Makinde made the call at the APM South-West town hall meeting in Akure, Ondo State, attended by party leaders and representatives from Lagos, Ogun, Ekiti, Osun and Ondo states.

The governor urged Nigerians to prioritise the energy, capacity and competence of presidential candidates rather than making age the central issue in the election.

“Why are we making age an issue in this campaign? I will make energy an issue,” he said.

Defending his presidential ambition despite the South-West’s previous occupancy of the presidency, Makinde cited the 1999 presidential election, when former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Chief Olu Falae, both from the region, contested the election.

“Both were from the South-West, and heaven did not fall,” he said, arguing that the region had the right to present candidates for Nigerians to assess and choose from.

Makinde also criticised the Federal Government’s budget management, questioning the implementation of national budgets and the decision to fly Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations from New York to Abuja to present the UN budget to the President.

Comparing the situation with his administration’s record in Oyo State, the governor said budget performance had improved from between 28 and 30 per cent before he assumed office to more than 70 per cent under his leadership.

“For the past seven-plus years, budget performance in Oyo State has risen to over 70 per cent. It is not a one-year achievement. It is something we do year in, year out,” he said.

Outlining his Reset Nigeria agenda, Makinde identified education, security, economic productivity and an inclusive sociopolitical environment as key priorities, stressing that national development must benefit all Nigerians regardless of their region or social status.

“We want a Nigeria that works for everybody, not a Nigeria that works for a very few,” he said.
The governor condemned what he described as a political culture in which leaders prioritise personal and regional interests over national development.

“We say no to a turn-by-turn Nigeria, where somebody says, ‘It is my turn to run a nepotistic administration,’” he said.

On economic policy, Makinde called for measures that would enable Nigerians to become productive and prosperous rather than remain dependent on government allocations.

“Please, let the people be productive. When they are productive, they become prosperous. Don’t tax poverty,” he added.

He also promised to reform Nigeria’s security architecture to create a safer environment for businesses, investors and other economic activities.

“We will reset our security architecture so that our economy will not shut down at 8 p.m. We will expand our economy,” Makinde said.

On democracy, the governor warned against alleged attempts to destabilise opposition parties, insisting that a functional multiparty system was essential to the country’s democratic development.

“Stop using the back door to cause crises in opposition parties. There is no democracy if we have a one-party system,” he said.

The APM National Chairman, Yusuf Mamman Dantalle, also called for collective action to address Nigeria’s economic hardship, insecurity and accountability challenges.

Dantalle questioned why Nigerians continued to struggle with rising prices, high living costs and declining purchasing power despite the country’s abundant natural and human resources.

He further expressed concern over insecurity, attacks on communities and threats to citizens’ lives, urging public institutions to become more responsive to the needs of the people.

According to him, democracy should extend beyond the conduct of elections to include respect for voters’ choices and the willingness of elected representatives to defend the interests of their constituents.

“The message is very simple: Nigeria belongs to all of us, and we must come together to rescue our country,” he said.

Dantalle maintained that rebuilding Nigeria required collective responsibility rather than reliance on an individual or political party.

“Nobody will fix Nigeria for us unless we collectively decide to fix it ourselves,” he added.

The APM vice-presidential candidate, Alhaji Lawal Musa Daura, described the turnout at the meeting as encouraging and urged party members to sustain their mobilisation efforts ahead of the election.

Daura said the party’s mission extended beyond addressing Nigeria’s immediate challenges to rebuilding the country and restoring public confidence in governance.

He urged members to remain united, disciplined and committed to the party’s objectives, while warning against attempts to disrupt its activities.

The vice-presidential candidate said the party intended to begin implementing its programmes from May 29, 2027, if elected, adding that preparations were already underway.

Also speaking, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed called on party members to remain committed to the APM’s national renewal agenda.

Mohammed described their participation in the party as a demonstration of their commitment to Nigeria and urged them to remain focused on grassroots mobilisation.

He also alleged that some individuals were attempting to infiltrate the party and disrupt its activities, adding that the party would take lawful steps to address such conduct.

Hajia Maryam Inna Ciroma urged Nigerians, particularly members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to support the APM, arguing that the country needed leadership committed to democratic participation, inclusiveness and national development.

She commended Makinde’s stated commitment to gender inclusion and called on Nigerians to unite in protecting democratic institutions.

The speakers urged party members to take the Reset Nigeria message to communities across the country and intensify grassroots mobilisation ahead of the 2027 general election.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms, accusing his administration of impoverishing Nigerians through the devaluation of the naira.

Obasanjo made the remarks on Wednesday at the Financial Times Africa Summit 2026 in London, United Kingdom, where he argued that the sharp depreciation of the national currency had significantly eroded the purchasing power of Nigerians.

According to the former president, the naira’s fall from about N500 to the dollar to approximately N1,500 represented a 300 per cent increase in the naira cost of a dollar, with serious consequences for the economic well-being of citizens.

“We do not live in isolation as a country. We interact with the rest of the world. And overnight, you devalue the currency by 300 per cent. The naira went from N500 to a dollar to N1,500 to a dollar. What that meant was that every Nigerian is made poor by 300 per cent,” he said.

Obasanjo argued that the economic situation had contributed to Nigeria’s reputation as the “poverty capital of the world,” referring to the country’s large population of people living in poverty.

“You cannot say to me that that is good for Nigeria. You cannot say to me that that is good for us in any sense,” he added.

The former president also questioned calls for more time to allow Tinubu’s reforms to yield results, insisting that he had yet to see convincing evidence of economic improvement.

“For the economy, I don’t see anything getting better. What policies are you seeing through? You impoverish your people, and you want to see impoverishment through?” Obasanjo asked.

He further maintained that the policies introduced by the Tinubu administration were not serving the best interests of Nigerians.

“Nobody can deny that,” he said.

On the removal of the petrol subsidy, Obasanjo acknowledged the far-reaching impact of fuel prices on the economy but argued that corruption associated with the subsidy regime should have been tackled before the government took further action.

He called for greater efforts to curb corruption, waste and unnecessary luxury, while encouraging increased domestic production as part of measures to address the country’s economic difficulties.

The former president’s comments come amid ongoing debates over the effects of the Tinubu administration’s economic reforms, particularly the removal of the petrol subsidy and the unification of the foreign exchange market.

Before the Central Bank of Nigeria unified the exchange-rate windows on June 14, 2023, the official exchange rate stood at approximately N460.8 to the dollar.

The naira subsequently weakened significantly, with the official rate reportedly reaching about N1,333.54 to the dollar on October 19, while it had fallen to around N1,607.05 in early May 2025.

Despite the depreciation of the currency, recent economic indicators have shown mixed developments.

The National Bureau of Statistics reported that headline inflation stood at 14.63 per cent in September, down from 20.98 per cent a year earlier.

However, food inflation remained elevated at 19.59 per cent, even as Nigeria’s real Gross Domestic Product grew by 4.43 per cent in the second quarter.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has denied allegations that it violated the Electoral Act 2026 by failing to publish the preliminary voters’ register online for public scrutiny within the stipulated seven-day period.

The Commission maintained that it complied with the law by displaying the register across wards and local government areas nationwide.

An INEC official at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja, who spoke exclusively to DAILY GAZETTE on Wednesday, dismissed claims of a breach of the law.

“The Commission has not broken the law. We complied with the relevant provisions of the Electoral Act by displaying the voters’ register across wards and local government areas in the country,” the official said.

The controversy arose following reports that the detailed preliminary voters’ register was inaccessible on INEC’s online portal during the scheduled display period of October 9 to 15, 2026.

Reports of difficulties accessing the register online triggered concerns over whether eligible voters had adequate opportunities to examine their details and identify possible errors within the period prescribed by law.

There were also questions about access to the register in some parts of Lagos State.

However, INEC’s Lagos office rejected the allegations, insisting that the exercise was conducted across all 245 registration areas in the state.

According to reports, the Commission’s online portal displayed the message: “There are currently no preliminary Registers to display. Please check back later.”

The message was reportedly still visible on October 20, several days after the scheduled period for public scrutiny had ended.

Section 19(1) of the Electoral Act 2026 stipulates that, subject to Section 9(6), INEC must, not later than 90 days before a general election, designate a seven-day period during which copies of the voters’ register for each local government area, area council or ward must be displayed or published for public scrutiny at registration areas or on the Commission’s official website or another website established for that purpose.

The reported unavailability of the register online has raised further questions about the accessibility of the detailed records underlying INEC’s announcement that Nigeria had 103,428,715 registered voters ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Lagos State reportedly had approximately 7.49 million registered voters, followed by Kano and Kaduna states.

While INEC insists that it fulfilled its statutory obligations through physical display of the register, concerns over online access have continued to fuel questions about the transparency and accessibility of the voter verification process.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it has completed nine of the 14 activities outlined in its timetable for the 2027 general elections, as preparations for the nationwide polls continue.

The INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, disclosed this through the National Commissioner in charge of Information and Voter Education, Dr Mohammed Haruna, during a youth engagement programme in Abuja on Wednesday.

The programme, tagged “The Electorate: A Youth Dialogue with INEC,” was organised by Yiaga Africa, the Global Shapers Community Abuja and Enough is Enough Nigeria under the theme, “Let’s Talk About the 2027 Elections.”

Haruna said the commission had made considerable progress in implementing its electoral schedule, which covers key activities, including the announcement of election dates, political party primaries, publication of the voters’ register and release of candidates’ lists.

He described the voters’ register as a vital component of the electoral process, noting that it would serve as the basis for accrediting eligible voters on election day.

The national commissioner also identified the publication of candidates nominated by political parties for elective positions as one of the activities already completed.

However, he acknowledged that the initial publication of the candidates’ list had attracted complaints from some political parties over alleged omissions and discrepancies.

According to him, INEC had invited the affected parties to submit petitions and was working to address the concerns before finalising the list.

Haruna added that the commission had increased the frequency of its meetings to review preparations, evaluate progress and take decisions necessary for the successful conduct of the elections.

He also explained INEC’s administrative structure, comprising a chairman and 12 national commissioners responsible for policy decisions, alongside resident electoral commissioners operating across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

On the appointment of national commissioners, he said the process involved nomination by the President, consideration by the Council of State and confirmation by the Senate.

Meanwhile, the Programme Manager for Governance at Yiaga Africa, Yetunde Bakari, called for stronger measures to guarantee the safe and meaningful participation of young Nigerians in the 2027 elections.

Bakari said young people were central to the country’s democratic process, serving not only as voters but also as candidates, community mobilisers and stakeholders in shaping Nigeria’s political future.

Citing findings from Yiaga Africa’s voting intention survey, she disclosed that 84 per cent of respondents indicated that they were likely or very likely to vote in the 2027 elections.

She, however, raised concerns that 61 per cent of those surveyed feared electoral violence could prevent them from exercising their voting rights.

Bakari further revealed that only 40 per cent of young respondents said they were very likely to participate in the elections, describing the figure as a warning sign that electoral stakeholders needed to address.

She stressed that voter mobilisation alone would not guarantee meaningful participation unless the electoral environment was safe, accessible and credible.

The Yiaga Africa official welcomed INEC’s early preparations, including online voter registration, printable Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), planned nationwide mock accreditation exercises and efforts to strengthen the governance of electoral technology and artificial intelligence.

She nevertheless maintained that the commission must demonstrate its readiness through transparency, effective communication and credible electoral procedures.

Bakari urged INEC to promptly inform the public whenever technical or operational challenges arise, ensure transparency in the deployment of artificial intelligence and make adequate arrangements for eligible voters in remote and hard-to-reach communities.

She also called on young Nigerians to rely on verified information, shun electoral violence and misinformation, and sustain their engagement with elected officials beyond election day.

The engagement brought electoral officials and civic organisations together to discuss preparations for the 2027 polls, with particular emphasis on youth participation, public confidence and the need to protect the integrity of the electoral process.

The Bauchi State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has denied reports of a political alliance with Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed ahead of the 2027 general elections, challenging the governor to formally join the ruling party if he intends to work with President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

The party said it had no knowledge of any political agreement with the governor outside the APC platform, urging members of the public to disregard unsubstantiated claims of an alliance.

The position was contained in a statement issued on Wednesday by the Bauchi State APC Publicity Secretary, Hon. Shehu Dauda Muhd Udubo.

According to the party, rumours of a political understanding between Governor Mohammed and the APC had been circulating among the governor’s associates, making it necessary to clarify its position.

“The All Progressives Congress (APC), Bauchi State Chapter, wishes to categorically state that it is not aware of any political agreement or alliance with the Bauchi State Governor, H.E. Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, outside the platform of the APC,” the statement said.

Udubo maintained that no formal agreement of the nature being speculated about had been established, advising the public to demand credible evidence before accepting such claims.

The party also questioned the alleged alliance, citing Mohammed’s continued association with candidates of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), including its presidential candidate.

“Furthermore, Governor Bala Mohammed has continued to associate with and campaign alongside candidates of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), including its presidential candidate,” the statement added.

The APC said the governor’s political activities had raised questions about claims of an understanding between him and the ruling party, stressing the need for clarity on the matter.

Despite dismissing reports of an alliance, the Bauchi APC welcomed Mohammed’s reported commendation of Tinubu’s leadership, economic reforms and interventions in the health sector.

The party, however, urged the governor to abandon his association with the APM and formally defect to the APC, describing his political engagement with the opposition party as an “ill-fated sojourn.”

“The APC Bauchi State Chapter welcomes Governor Bala Mohammed’s appreciation of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s leadership, economic reforms, health sector interventions, and invites him to abort his ill-fated sojourn in the APM by formally joining the All Progressives Congress,” Udubo said.

The party argued that Mohammed’s entry into the APC would establish a clearer political framework for cooperation between the Bauchi State Government and the Federal Government.

It maintained that aligning with the ruling party would improve coordination between both levels of government and potentially expand the state’s access to federal development programmes and opportunities.

“If the Governor genuinely wishes to align Bauchi State with the federal government’s development agenda, joining the APC would provide a clear and consistent political platform for cooperation, coordination, and the advancement of the interests of the people of Bauchi State,” the statement said.

The party further described Bauchi as a strategically important state that should not remain outside what it called Nigeria’s mainstream political platform.

It reaffirmed its support for Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, saying closer collaboration with the Federal Government was necessary to advance development, improve residents’ welfare and ensure the state benefits from federal policies and initiatives.

The Bauchi APC also called on residents to remain calm and prioritise governance, development and unity over political speculation.

“We call on the people of Bauchi State to remain calm, discerning, and focused on the issues that matter most: good governance, development, unity, and the well-being of our people,” Udubo said.

The statement comes amid political realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections, with parties and political leaders positioning themselves for the contests.

However, the Bauchi APC maintained that no political alliance with Governor Mohammed had been established outside its party platform.