The Jigawa State chapter of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has rejected the reported endorsement of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term by about 500 Islamic scholars and clerics in the state.

The party described the endorsement as inappropriate and contrary to the principles of religious teachings, while urging Islamic scholars to maintain their independence and moral authority.

The ADC’s position was contained in a statement signed by its Youth Ambassador, North, and Deputy Chairman in Jigawa State, Ambassador Nuraddeen Suleiman Jidawa.

The party said the gathering of scholars and preachers in Dutse, where the endorsement was reportedly made, amounted to the politicisation of religious authority.

It also challenged claims contained in the communiqué issued after the meeting, particularly the attribution of the Kano-Dutse/Kano-Maradi railway project to the Tinubu administration.

According to the ADC, the railway project was approved and awarded in 2021 under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.

The opposition party consequently challenged the All Progressives Congress-led Federal Government to identify major capital projects initiated and substantially completed by the Tinubu administration in Jigawa State.

The ADC also disputed claims that security had significantly improved under the current administration, particularly across the North-West.

It cited recent incidents of kidnapping and terrorist attacks in Kaduna, Sokoto and Zamfara states as evidence that insecurity remained a major challenge in the region.

The party further referred to an August 24 report by Al Jazeera concerning a video purportedly showing a large number of abducted people being held by armed men following the reported kidnapping of hundreds of worshippers in Niger State.

It argued that such incidents made it inappropriate to portray the country’s security situation as having been resolved.

The ADC urged Islamic scholars and clerics to remain politically neutral and resist attempts to influence their positions through money, political access or other incentives.

The party also criticised the removal of the petrol subsidy, arguing that it had contributed to rising transportation, food and other living costs.

It called on Nigerians to assess the Tinubu administration based on key indicators including security, economic welfare, employment, infrastructure, transparency and accountability.

While acknowledging that individual clerics have the right to make personal political choices, the ADC said such endorsements should not be presented as religious pronouncements or portrayed as the collective position of Nigeria’s Muslim population.