The Tijjaniyya Islamic Sect in Kano has denied endorsing any politician in the state, following rumors that the sect had endorsed Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf.
This is contained in a statement on Saturday by the Head of the popular Gausiyya Association of Tijjaniyya in Kano, Sheikh Abubakar Ahmad Darma, a copy of which was made available to The Punch on Sunday.
“As a religious body, the Tijjaniyya Sect is an independent Islamic organization with no political affiliation and has not endorsed any individual as a candidate in the state,” the statement read in Hausa.
The statement however noted that every member of the group has the right to belong to any political party or alignment of their choice.
“Members of the sect are free to vote for whosoever they decide to vote for as individual citizens exercising their constitutional rights.
“The Tijjaniyya Sect is not a political entity but a purely religious body with millions of members across the country.
“However, as individuals, members of the sect are free to exercise their constitutional rights to vote and be voted for. But as a body we have not endorsed any individual,” the statement said.
The group further reminded members that the sect’s founder, Sheikh Ibrahim Nyass, had encouraged participation in politics to help and cater for the welfare of the people, but not for material benefits. “Those who do politics for material benefits have sold their hereafter,” the statement said.
In a related development, another Tijjaniyya group, the Sufi Political Awareness Forum, Kano, under the leadership of Malam Tuhami Abubakar Adam, has also issued a statement declaring that it has not endorsed Governor Yusuf as its candidate for the 2027 general election.
The statement added that the Shura Majlis of the Tijjaniyya Sect is a religious body and not a political one. It said the endorsement of Governor Yusuf by some individuals was not on behalf of the sect, as every member has the right to vote for whosoever he wishes to vote for.
Recall that the chairman of the Shura Council of the Tijjaniyya Sect, Sheikh Sani Shehu Maihula, was said to declared the council’s support for the re-election of Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf ahead of the next governorship election during the annual Zikr and national prayer organised by the sect at the Kano Emir’s Palace on Friday.
According to a statement issued on Saturday by the governor’s spokesperson, Sunusi Bature, members of the council unanimously resolved to back Yusuf’s second-term bid, citing his commitment to good governance, promotion of Islamic values and implementation of people-centred policies.
According to DawakinTofa, the cleric (Maihula) commended the governor for supporting religious activities and executing programmes in education, healthcare, infrastructure and social welfare across the state.
