2027: NSCIA Will Not Be Used for Partisan Politics — Sultan of Sokoto
The Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, has warned political actors against attempting to use the council as a platform for partisan lobbying ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Sultan said the NSCIA would remain guided by its values, principles and responsibilities, regardless of approaches by politicians seeking to influence its position as political activities intensify ahead of the elections.
He spoke in Abuja at the NSCIA General Assembly, the council’s highest decision-making organ, where he acknowledged that political actors had begun reaching out to individual members and sending correspondence to the organisation.
CONTINUE READING THIS ARTICLE BELOW AFTER THESE IMPORTANT NOTICES
Log in to primsol.lawpavilion.com and store.lawpavilion.com to enjoy the best E-journals, textbooks, and many more. For further enquiries/assistance, send an email to customercare@lawpavilion.com or call 08050298729
The Sultan, however, stressed that such approaches would not determine the direction of the council.
“Some of our members are speaking to some of the election people who are sitting by the side. We tell them who we are, what we stand for, and we shall try to do the best that we can do,” he said.
His remarks came as political parties, candidates and support groups intensify consultations, alliance-building and mobilisation ahead of the 2027 elections, with political structures increasingly taking shape across the country.
The Sultan urged members of the Muslim community to remain united and resist attempts to allow partisan interests to weaken the collective voice of the Ummah.
He said the council must continue to approach national issues from the standpoint of principle rather than political convenience, particularly as politicians increasingly seek the support and endorsement of religious and community leaders.
The NSCIA General Assembly brought together leaders of Islamic organisations, State Councils for Islamic Affairs, Muslim public office holders and prominent members of the Muslim community from across the country.
The council had earlier said the assembly would provide a platform for consultation on issues affecting Muslims and the wider Nigerian society.
The Sultan also disclosed that plans were underway to make the General Assembly an annual event to strengthen consultation, cohesion and coordination among Muslim organisations and leaders.
The meeting followed a special national prayer organised by the council at the Abuja National Mosque, where participants prayed for peace, security, good governance, unity and the progress of Nigeria.
The NSCIA had said the prayer and assembly formed part of its broader efforts to promote peaceful coexistence and national stability.
At the prayer session, the Secretary-General of the council, Professor Is-haq Oloyede, urged politicians seeking public office to fear God and place the survival and wellbeing of Nigeria above personal political ambitions.
The council also used the gathering to restate its interest in leadership recruitment and governance, identifying security, the economy, infrastructure and human capital development among areas where it expects political leaders to provide clear direction.
For the NSCIA, engagement ahead of the 2027 elections should therefore extend beyond personalities and partisan loyalties.
The council said political engagement should be assessed against issues affecting ordinary Nigerians and the broader responsibilities of leadership, including protecting peace, promoting justice and improving living conditions.
The Sultan’s warning comes weeks after he separately urged Nigerians to carefully assess political promises before deciding who to support in 2027, while cautioning against divisive politics.
The position forms part of a broader call for religious and traditional institutions to avoid becoming platforms for uncritical political endorsement.
The Sultan did not indicate that the NSCIA would refuse to engage with political actors. Rather, he stressed that any such engagement must remain consistent with the identity, principles and responsibilities of the council.
As political consultations deepen ahead of the 2027 elections, the Sultan’s message was that access to the NSCIA should not be mistaken for the ability to influence its collective position.
FOR SUPPORT TO BARRISTERNG BLOG, DONATE TO: 1. NAIRA ACCOUNT: 1023046978 - UBA 2. USD ACCOUNT: 5090743566 - FIDELITY BANK PLC
Call Bridget Edokwe Esq on 08060798767 or send your articles to barristerngblog@gmail.com
A Must-Have for Every Lawyer: Order Justice Alaba Omolaye-Ajileye’s Latest Books on Electronic Evidence Today: To order your copies, click the link below and order directly from the author:
https://velvety-cendol-7387ed.netlify.app/
SHOP NOW
The Price is 10k for Hard Copy less freight and 5k for E- Book copy in the Store of the Website. https://buokorie.com/store/ To access the hard copy, Call - 07087622283
