Bauchi: Imam Removed Over Alleged Tinubu Support Tenders Apology

According to a report by Daily Trust on Friday, November 6, 2026, Dahiru Abubakar, popularly known as Malam Danmalam, the Bauchi-based Islamic cleric who reportedly faced removal from his position after publicly expressing support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid, has issued a public apology following the controversy surrounding his remarks.

The controversy erupted about two weeks ago after reports emerged that Abubakar had been removed from his position as an imam at a mosque in Madina Quarters, Bauchi State, over his alleged endorsement of Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The development generated widespread reactions, with some Nigerians criticising the cleric for allegedly bringing partisan politics into religious affairs. Others, however, questioned the circumstances surrounding his reported removal and whether he officially held the position attributed to him.

Amid the growing public debate, the Bauchi State Sharia Commission intervened and summoned Abubakar to explain his comments and clarify the circumstances surrounding the incident.

During the meeting, which was led by Malam Muhammad Muhammad Bununu, Commander of the Hisbah under the commission, the cleric was given an opportunity to respond to the allegations and address the controversy.

Speaking before the commission, Abubakar accused some media organisations of misrepresenting his comments and exaggerating the size and status of the mosque where he reportedly served.

He explained that the mosque was a small prayer facility with only two rows of worshippers and was not a Juma’at mosque, where Muslims gather for weekly Friday congregational prayers.

According to him, the reports created the impression that he was the imam of a large Friday mosque, thereby giving his comments a different meaning and attracting unnecessary public attention.

“I made the statement, but I never expected it to generate this kind of controversy. The mosque being discussed is not more than two prayer rows; it is a small mosque. It is not a Friday mosque, but some people across the world understood it to be a large Friday mosque,” he said.

The cleric further expressed concern that his remarks had been interpreted in different ways, insisting that he never intended to mislead the public or create political tension.

He said the controversy could have been avoided if his comments had been reported accurately, adding that political statements were often subjected to different interpretations depending on the interests and positions of those discussing them.

Abubakar subsequently apologised to those who may have misunderstood his remarks, particularly those who believed he was referring to a major Friday mosque.

“In the name of Allah, I apologise to everyone who understood it to mean that it was a Juma’at mosque. That was not what I meant. I was referring to a small mosque,” he stated.

He also disclosed that the congregation at the mosque consisted of only seven worshippers, stressing that the internal disagreements surrounding his reported removal had already been resolved.

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