An Islamic cleric in Jibia Local Government Area of Katsina State, Malam Gaddafi Lawal, has urged Nigerians to focus on electing credible individuals rather than voting solely based on political party affiliation.
Hikaya Newspaper reports that the cleric made the remarks in a video clip circulating on social media, particularly Facebook. He stated that there is no verse in the Holy Qur’an that directs Muslims to support any specific political party such as APC, PDP, ADC, SDP, NDC, or APGA.
According to him, Islam does not restrict people to a particular political party, as individuals are free to join any party they believe will serve the interests of the people. He stressed that the most important consideration should be choosing leaders who are honest, just, and committed to public service.
He also spoke about democracy, describing it as a system in which people elect a government to work on their behalf. However, he expressed concern that, in his view, democracy is not functioning properly in Nigeria, as some people appear to face pressure to join certain political parties in order to contest for or retain public office.
Malam Gaddafi further emphasized that there is no religious text that makes it compulsory for people to belong to any particular political party. He said religious scholars encourage citizens to support and vote for any candidate they consider to be upright, hardworking, and fair.
The cleric also raised concerns about challenges affecting the daily lives of citizens, particularly inadequate access to clean drinking water and electricity. He noted that these problems have continued to affect many communities despite the country’s abundant resources.
He called on aspiring leaders to demonstrate justice, accountability, and good governance if they wish to earn public support. According to him, leaders will gain the trust and confidence of the people when they focus on addressing everyday challenges and improving the welfare and development of their communities.