Nigerians Push Back Against Manipulation and Corruption in 2027 Election Campaigns

As the campaigns for the 2027 general elections kick off, religious leaders and politicians are using old tricks to gain support for their candidates.

But Nigerians are standing up against these tactics aimed at swaying voters through speeches and money.

Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC), is focusing on President Bola Tinubu’s past and the religious makeup of his ticket. He is also bringing back the discussion on fuel subsidy.

In a recent chat with JKD Media, Atiku shared how he refused to pick Tinubu as his running mate in 2007 because he did not support a Muslim-Muslim ticket. He also mentioned taking the same stance in 2015 when former President Muhammadu Buhari considered Tinubu for the same role.

In the interview led by Yusuf Mamman, Atiku made his position clear. "I don’t believe in a Muslim-Muslim ticket because it does not bode well for the country," he said.

However, Atiku admitted to an unsuccessful attempt to be M.K.O. Abiola's running mate in 1993. Abiola chose Babagana Kingibe, another Muslim. If Abiola had chosen Atiku as urged by the Shehu Yar’Adua camp, it would have also been a same-faith ticket.

Political watchers see Atiku’s comments as a way to tap into current religious feelings.

In Nigeria, the choice of presidential and vice-presidential candidates has often been based on political strategy. For example, in the 1979 presidential election, Nnamdi Azikiwe of the Nigerian People’s Party (NPP) picked fellow Christian Ishaya Audu as his running mate. Audu was a doctor from Kaduna State and a former Vice-Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

Likewise, Obafemi Awolowo, running under the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) in the same election, selected Philip Umeadi, a Christian from Anambra State, as his deputy.

Before this, during military rule, Joseph Wey was Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters for nine years under Yakubu Gowon. Both men were Christians.

Buhari had Tunde Idiagbon, a fellow Muslim, as his deputy from December 1983 to August 1985.

The New Rhetoric

Two clerics are actively framing the 2027 elections as a battle between Nigeria’s major religions. Jos-based clerics Sani Jingir and Ezekiel Dachamo have faced backlash for their views on the upcoming elections.

Jingir, who strongly supported the APC’s Muslim-Muslim ticket in the 2023 elections, repeated his message at a mass wedding for 1,500 couples organized by the Kano State Government. Speaking in Hausa, he said:

"I am one of those who raise the flag of Islam; I am calling on people to come and let us do Muslim-Muslim again. I know this statement pains the non-Muslims; there are Christians and other religious groups.

"I didn’t stop them from doing their campaigns, calling for Christian-Christian tickets. In a democracy, the majority carries the vote," Jingir said.

"I am a Muslim who preaches Islam. If I say Muslim-Muslim, what have I taken away from them?" he added.

He urged Muslims to register and vote in large numbers, arguing that the election results will show their demographic strength in Nigeria.

"Let us show the world that those non-Muslims who claim they outnumber us in Nigeria are lying. When the votes were counted in 2023, Allah helped us and defeated them; they even came in third position," he stated, referring to Labour Party candidate Peter Obi, who was recorded framing the poll as a religious battle.

Jingir leads a faction of Jama’atu Izalatil Bid’ah Wa Iqamatis Sunnah (Izala), a reformist Salafi group founded in Jos in the 1970s. The group promotes a strict interpretation of Islamic texts.

However, his deputy, Yusuf Sambo, is reportedly supporting Atiku. Sambo said Nigeria needs a leader who treats all faiths and groups fairly, mentioning other clerics who disagree with Jingir.

Ezekiel Dachomo’s Rhetoric

Supporters of Jingir defended his comments in Kano by comparing him with Dachomo, a Christian preacher. A video showed Dachomo linking killings by bandits in Plateau State to Nigerians electing Muslim leaders.

"We must be very careful with the issue of a Muslim-Muslim ticket in the 2027 election.

"At the state level, God will show us what to do. However, at the federal level, we will demonstrate that we are the majority, as per the Nigerian census. This is what will happen.

"This is a battle we are fighting, they are engaging in both political and physical warfare while we are sleeping. Let us stand up and show the world that Christians are the majority in Nigeria," Dachomo stated.

Endorsement Went Wrong

Corruption is another hot issue in the campaign. Musa Yusuf, an Islamic cleric from Kaduna, praised the APC for naming former Zamfara State Governor Abdulaziz Yari as the director-general of its presidential campaign.

Yusuf, also known as Asadussunnah, commended Yari for his charitable work, including a recent ₦1 million donation to 250 clerics.

He urged Nigerians to support the APC candidate because of Yari. Even before Yari's campaign appointment, another cleric, Jalo Jalingo, praised him on Facebook, likening him to one of Prophet Muhammad’s companions.

These comments led to backlash on social media. Critics accused the clerics of losing their moral authority by praising a politician facing corruption charges.

A Kaduna cleric, Ustaz Bn-Al Qasim, blamed corrupt politicians for Nigeria's economic struggles and insecurity.

"I felt ashamed after seeing one of our colleagues praise a senator simply because he donated money to some of us, even going so far as to liken the lawmaker to Uthman ibn Affan, a companion of the Prophet. Please, do not set such a dangerous precedent.

"In reality, those being praised are among those Nigerians hold accountable for their suffering. Giving one million naira to individual clerics does not make him a companion of the Prophet.

"Instead of handing out one million naira, politicians should create a good economic environment where everyone can thrive.

"No politician should be praised for distributing funds, as that money belongs to the public. These politicians think they are smart, they keep billions and give out a little of their stolen money as 'gifts,' hoping we will praise them and they will go to paradise," Al-Qasim said.

Who is Yari?

Yari represents Zamfara East in the Senate. He was the governor of troubled Zamfara State from 2011 to 2019.

In 2021, PREMIUM TIMES reported that the Federal High Court in Abuja ordered the final forfeiture of funds in Yari's accounts with Zenith Bank and Polaris Bank. The court found that he could not explain how he obtained large sums of money in both naira and US dollars.

The anti-corruption agency, ICPC, also secured an interim forfeiture order against Yari in February 2022 from Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court, Abuja. This order affected 10 high-value properties linked to Yari and his associates in Abuja, Kaduna, Zamfara State, and Maryland, USA.

Yari has been detained multiple times by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). In May 2022, he was arrested over alleged involvement in an N84 billion fraud tied to Ahmed Idris, the former Accountant-General of the Federation.

Investigators claimed Yari received about N22 billion from the misappropriated funds through linked companies. His new role in the APC 2027 Presidential Campaign has brought more public attention to him.

Anti-corruption activists noted that many figures appointed to key campaign positions, like former governors and political allies, also face ongoing or past investigations by the EFCC and ICPC.

How to Redefine Political Rhetoric, Expert

Ibrahim Siraj, a professor in the Department of Mass Communication at Bayero University, Kano, said the rhetoric from both Jingir and Dachamo is harmful.

"We believe that Plateau State is a place with a history of conflict; their harsh words reflect a local climate of unrest," Siraj said.

"What these leaders need to see is that both Muslims and Christians suffer from violence in Jos; neither side owns the pain. Sadly, this shared suffering is fueling their angry speeches.

"Instead of holding political leaders accountable for mismanaging resources that lead to this violence, these clerics are using their platforms for political gain," he warned.

Siraj said it is wrong to turn a complex political situation into a simple fight between two religions. He believes the focus should be on electing capable leaders who can provide good governance, regardless of their faith.

"Through their words, these clerics have reduced the presidential race to a numbers game and a fight over national identity. This harms Nigeria at a time when citizens need responsible and caring leadership," he said.

"While the issues in Plateau State concern all Nigerians, local conflicts should not spread to other areas in political discussions. A strong leader can come from any faith, and this unity is what voters should support," Siraj stated.

He urged religious leaders to stop misusing their influence.

"When public conversations focus on religious divisions, it distracts from deeper problems and shields those in power from being questioned.

"Religious and civic leaders must use their platforms to bring communities together around shared values, not to exploit grievances for short-term political gains.

"Nigerians should reject divisive speeches and call for leaders who focus on policies; we can move beyond identity politics and create a nation where governance serves the common good," Siraj said.