The League of Imams and Alfas in Yorubaland has declared that it will not endorse any politician or political party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The League, known in Arabic as Rabitah tul Aimma wal Ulama fii Biladi Yoruba, made the declaration on Saturday at the opening of its three-day conference for Imams, Alfas, political office holders and traditional rulers in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
The conference, with the theme, “The Responsibilities of Politicians and Electorate During and After the Electoral Process,” is aimed at promoting peaceful, credible and responsible participation in the electoral process.
Speaking at the event, leaders of the League said religious leaders must remain neutral and serve as moral guides to both politicians and voters, rather than becoming campaign tools for any party or candidate.
They stressed that Imams and Alfas have a duty to preach peace, truth, justice and accountability before, during and after elections, and to hold elected leaders accountable irrespective of party affiliation.
The event was attended by the Oyo State Governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde, who is also the presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM); the APM governorship candidate in Oyo State, Hon. Abimbola Adekanmbi, and his running mate, Mr. Open Salawu; as well as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in the state, Alhaji Hazeem Gbolarumi.
The event was also attended by Chairman, Board of Trustees of the League, Sheikh Muhammad Habibullah Adam Abdullahi El-Ilory, President of the league, Sheikh Jamiu Kewulere, Chief Imam of Ibadanland, Sheikh Abdulganiy Abubakar, Alfa Agba of Ibadanland, Sheikh Abdulbari Adetunji, Grand Mufti of Yoruba Land, Sheikh AbdulRasaq AbdulAzeez Ishola, Secretary General of the, League, Sheikh Mustapha Oseni Adewale Hamzat and Chairman, Oyo State Pilgrim Welfare Board (Muslim Wing) Sheikh Hashim Atere and Professor Kamil Olosho.
Addressing the gathering, Abdullahi El-Ilory, explained that the league cannot declare support or announce any candidate or political party as its preferred candidate for the forthcoming general elections.
He said that Islamic clerics are not politicians and their work is not to campaign for any politician or political party.
He maintained that the only thing the league can do is to join Nigerians and pray for the country to have good leaders.
He said, “We are religious leaders, we are not politicians, but we are the fathers of politicians. We will not declare support for any political party or politicians.
“We the league of Imams and Alfas in Yorubaland cannot declare support or announce our support for any politician or political party. We can only pray to God for Him to give us credible leaders”.
Kewulere in his contribution, noted that the focus of clerics should be to guide the people and preach the religion of Islam.
He said, “We are not politicians. An Imam is not supposed to involved in politics. Our focus should be to guide people and preach the religion of Islam in line with the Islamic principles”.
Ishola, in his contribution explained that the programme was organised in order to ensure unity and cooperation among Muslims Yorubaland prior, during and after the next general elections.
Makinde urged Nigerians to see themselves as one, and advised Muslim clerics not to allow people to use religion to cause confusion in the forthcoming general elections.