Islamic Cleric Alleges Tinubu Paid 12 Imams Per Northern State ₦3m Each for Mosque Campaigns
An Islamic cleric has alleged that President Bola Tinubu’s political machinery selected 12 imams from each northern state, paid them ₦3 million each, and directed them to campaign for the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Tinubu inside mosques.
The claim, made in a video circulating widely on social media, has reignited debate over the intersection of religion and politics ahead of the 2027 elections.
The cleric stated that the selected religious leaders held five meetings as part of the arrangement and were mobilized to preach what he described as the “gospel of Tinubu” among worshippers.
In a video, originally shared by a Peter Obi grassroots mobilization account, there was no documentary evidence accompanying the allegation to independently verify the payments or the scale of the mobilization.
Context of Northern Scholars’ Gatherings
The claim emerges against the backdrop of a series of meetings organized under the Muslim Intellectual Forum. Reports indicate five such gatherings took place, including sessions in Kaduna, Abuja and the most recent in Dutse, Jigawa State.
For the Jigawa meeting, accounts confirmed that 12 scholars were selected from each northern state.
Some organisers and APC-aligned figures later announced that more than 500 Islamic scholars had endorsed Tinubu for a second term in 2027.
However, Sheikh Abdurrahman Abubakar Azzamfari, a participant in several of the meetings, publicly rejected those reports.
In a video message, he insisted the endorsement was never discussed or agreed upon by the scholars present and criticised attempts to use religious leaders for political ends.
He declined to detail any financial provisions at the time, saying it was not the appropriate moment.
Broader Political and Social Backdrop
The allegation lands at a moment when many Nigerians continue to voice frustration over rising living costs, unemployment, poverty and insecurity, particularly in parts of the North where attacks, abductions and displacement remain serious concerns.
Critics argue that turning mosques into platforms for partisan mobilisation risks deepening social divisions and undermines the spiritual role of religious institutions.
Supporters of the administration point to ongoing engagement with northern stakeholders on security, infrastructure and development as legitimate political outreach.
The Tinubu government and APC have not issued an immediate public response specifically addressing the ₦3 million payment claim in available reports.
Questions of Verification and Implications
As political activities intensify toward 2027, the circulation of such allegations underscores the intense competition for influence among religious and community leaders.
Independent verification of the specific payments and instructions remains absent, leaving the claim in the realm of unverified assertion for now.
Observers note that the episode forms part of a larger pattern of contested narratives around northern support, religious mobilization, and the use of financial incentives in Nigerian politics.
Whether the claim prompts formal investigations, further disclosures from participants, or official clarification will likely shape the next phase of public discussion.
For ordinary citizens grappling with daily economic pressures, the focus remains on whether political engagement translates into tangible improvements in security, livelihoods and governance rather than solely on electoral arithmetic.
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