The report appears to concern a northern Nigerian imam identified in online coverage as Malam Dan Malam, who said he was removed by a mosque committee after making remarks praising President Bola Tinubu. One report says the imam claimed he was dismissed after saying Tinubu had memorised the Qur’an. However, the committee’s account of the dismissal has not been established in the reports I found, so the article should clearly attribute the claim to the imam rather than present the reason as independently confirmed.
Imam Says Mosque Committee Removed Him After Praising Tinubu Ahead of 2027 Election
A northern Nigerian imam has alleged that he lost his position after making remarks in support of President Bola Tinubu, bringing renewed attention to the growing debate over political campaigning in religious settings ahead of the 2027 general election.
The cleric, identified in media reports as Malam Dan Malam, reportedly discussed his experience during an appearance on Zamani TV’s Hausa-language programme, Dandalin Nishadi.
According to a report published on October 19, 2026, the imam claimed that the mosque committee removed him after he said Tinubu had memorised the entire Qur’an.
The claim has attracted attention online, particularly as political parties and their supporters begin mobilising ahead of the next presidential election.
However, the mosque committee’s account of the decision was not available in the report. The circumstances surrounding the dismissal therefore remain unconfirmed independently.
The incident comes amid growing discussions about the role of religious leaders in Nigeria’s political process and whether places of worship should be used to promote political candidates.
Religious leaders often have considerable influence within their communities, making their public statements on elections and government policies a subject of national interest.
While some clerics have publicly expressed support for Tinubu’s re-election, others have criticised his administration over insecurity, economic hardship and the rising cost of living.
Earlier in October, more than 1,000 Islamic clerics reportedly called on Tinubu to abandon his re-election ambition, citing concerns about insecurity and economic conditions. Their position reflects the differences among religious leaders over the administration and the country’s political direction.
The reported dismissal of Malam Dan Malam has added another dimension to these discussions, raising questions about how mosque committees handle political statements made by their religious leaders.
The incident also highlights the challenge religious institutions face in maintaining their standing among worshippers with different political opinions.
As the 2027 election approaches, public debate is likely to continue over the boundaries between religious preaching, personal political views and organised election campaigning.
The imam’s account, however, does not establish whether the committee’s decision was based solely on his reported remarks about Tinubu or whether other considerations were involved.
Neither a detailed explanation from the mosque committee nor independent confirmation of the full circumstances surrounding his removal was available in the report reviewed for this story. For now, the case remains an allegation by the cleric, while the broader debate over political advocacy in places of worship continues.