The African Democratic Congress (ADC), Jigawa State Chapter, has rejected the endorsement of President Bola Tinubu for a second term by more than 500 Islamic scholars, clerics, and preachers who gathered in Dutse at the weekend.

In a statement on Tuesday by Nuraddeen Suleiman Jidawa, Deputy Chairman of the Jigawa State ADC, the party described the endorsement as unfortunate, urging religious leaders to preserve their independence and moral authority.

The ADC also faulted the communiqué issued at the meeting, particularly the claim that the Tinubu administration initiated the Kano-Dutse/Kano-Maradi railway project.

The party said the project was approved and awarded under former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2021, and challenged the APC-led Federal Government to identify major capital projects initiated and substantially executed by the Tinubu administration in Jigawa State.

The party also rejected claims of significant improvement in security, particularly in the North-West, citing recent kidnapping and terrorist attacks in Kaduna, Sokoto and Zamfara.

It further referenced an August 24 Al Jazeera report on a video purportedly showing a large number of abducted persons held by armed men following the reported abduction of hundreds of worshippers in Niger State.

The ADC said the developments made it “irresponsible” to portray Nigeria’s security situation as resolved.

The party urged Islamic scholars and clerics to remain neutral, warning against allowing political influence, money or access to power to compromise their independence and credibility.

It also blamed the removal of the petrol subsidy for worsening transportation, food and other living costs, urging Nigerians to assess the government based on security, economic welfare, employment, infrastructure, transparency and accountability.

The ADC stressed that while it respected individual clerics’ political choices, their endorsements should not be presented as religious verdicts or as representing Nigeria’s Muslim community. (The Sun)