More than 500 Islamic scholars, preachers and clerics drawn from across Nigeria have formally endorsed President Bola Tinubu for a second term in office, following a closed-door meeting held in Jigawa State.
The endorsement came after the clerics met with six northern governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau and Ibrahim Masari, who serves as President Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Political Matters.
The identities of the six APC governors who attended were not immediately disclosed.
The gathering brought together a significant concentration of northern political heavyweights and religious leaders, signalling an early and coordinated push to consolidate support for the president ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Masari, a longtime political ally of Tinubu who played a central role in the president’s political outreach during the 2023 election cycle, was a notable presence at the meeting.
Deputy Senate President Barau, who represents Kano North and ranks among the most senior northern figures in the National Assembly, also participated in the session.
Following the meeting, the assembled Islamic scholars formally declared their backing for Tinubu’s return to Aso Rock for a second term.
The endorsement, coming from over 500 clerics nationwide, represents one of the largest single bloc shows of support from Nigeria’s Islamic community since Tinubu assumed office in May 2023.
With the 2027 presidential election still roughly two years away, political activity has already begun intensifying across the country, and Tinubu’s camp appears to be working to secure broad regional and religious backing well ahead of the campaign season.
See the post below:
BREAKING: After a closed-door meeting with six northern APC governors, Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau, and President Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Political Matters, Ibrahim Masari, over 500 Islamic scholars, preachers and clerics from across the country have endorsed… pic.twitter.com/rCkihxzJLi
— Nigerian Affairs Journal (@NigAffairs) August 22, 2026
