Abubakar served as the imam of Masjid Abdullahi Bin Zubbair in Madina Quarters, Bauchi. His removal reportedly followed repeated warnings by the mosque committee against engaging in political activities within the place of worship.
A source said the imam continued making comments in support of Tinubu after Sunday’s dawn prayer, telling worshippers that the president was not responsible for Nigeria’s insecurity and deserved another term in office.
Defending his remarks, Abubakar said he had urged worshippers to stop blaming Tinubu for the country’s security and economic challenges.
“I have been preaching to the people to stop castigating President Tinubu for the insecurity and economic challenges,” he said.
The imam maintained that his sermons focused on religious devotion, daily conduct and seeking divine intervention over insecurity.
“My preaching priorities are fear of God and our day-to-day activities,” he said.
He also cited conflicts in Sudan, Chad and Mali, questioning whether Tinubu could be held responsible for insecurity in those countries.
Confirming the development, the mosque committee chairman, Imam Abubakar Jibrin, said the disagreement involved not only the imam’s political comments but also his alleged organisation of political gatherings around the mosque.
“Our major challenge with him was not only his campaign for Tinubu but the way and manner he gathered many people in front of the mosque and sometimes entered the mosque purposely to discuss politics,” Jibrin said.
He explained that the committee had held several meetings with Abubakar and repeatedly cautioned him against turning the mosque into a platform for political activities.
According to Jibrin, political parties have designated channels for campaigning, including their offices, and should not use places of worship for such purposes.
The chairman further alleged that Abubakar had proposed renaming the mosque Masjid Imam Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
He said the committee rejected the proposal, insisting that the mosque belonged to the community and would retain its existing name.
Jibrin added that the committee had decided not to reinstate the imam.
The mosque chairman stressed that Abubakar’s removal was not an expression of opposition to Tinubu or any other political candidate.
He said the committee’s primary concern was to preserve the mosque’s religious purpose and prevent political disputes from disrupting its activities.
“Our prayer is to Allah to choose the best for the country, be it President Tinubu or any candidate among the presidential candidates that would become a blessing to the country,” Jibrin said.
The development comes as political activities and preparations for the 2027 general elections continue to draw attention across Nigeria, with the Bauchi mosque committee maintaining that places of worship should remain focused on religious activities rather than partisan campaigning.
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