Katsina Clerics Reject APC Female Consensus Candidate

Islamic clerics in Mani and Bindawa local government areas of Katsina State have opposed the emergence of a female candidate, Jamilu Abdu-Mani, as the All Progressives Congress (APC) consensus flagbearer for the Mani/Bindawa Federal Constituency ahead of the 2027 general elections, urging residents to reject her candidature.

The development comes after Mrs Abdu-Mani, currently Special Adviser to the Katsina State Governor on Girl Child Education and Child Development, emerged as the APC consensus candidate following a stakeholders’ meeting in which the incumbent lawmaker, Ahmad Yusuf, and other aspirants lost out.

The ruling party in the state had adopted a consensus arrangement for selecting candidates ahead of the 2027 elections, setting up a high-level committee chaired by former Governor Aminu Masari, with zonal coordinators overseeing the process across senatorial districts.

However, the selection process has triggered controversy, particularly after an earlier consensus arrangement involving Ahmad Saleh was revisited following objections from other aspirants.

Opposition to the emergence of Mrs Abdu-Mani gained momentum on Friday when two Islamic clerics publicly rejected her candidacy and called on constituents to vote against her.

At a religious gathering in Katsina, an Islamic cleric, Abu Abdullahi, argued that leadership roles should not be entrusted to women, citing religious teachings.

“The Prophet, in an authentic Hadith, cautioned against handing leadership affairs to women. Why should we deviate from our religious teachings?” he said during a sermon at Lowcost Mosque.

In a similar position, another cleric in Bindawa, Usman Salisu, urged local authorities and stakeholders to challenge the decision, describing it as inconsistent with Islamic guidance.

“We are calling on the chairman of Bindawa local government and other stakeholders to protest this decision, even if it costs them their positions, because the Prophet said any society that appoints a woman as leader is doomed,” he said during a Jumu’ah sermon.

The comments have reignited debate over women’s participation in elective politics in the conservative northern state, where cultural and religious sentiments have often shaped political outcomes.

In contrast, Islamic scholar Abu Ammar, speaking earlier during a stakeholders’ engagement with women aspirants and Governor Dikko Radda in April, had noted that Islam does not outrightly forbid women from leadership positions. He, however, stressed that such roles must align with societal moral and community standards.

“Islam recognises and permits women to take on leadership roles, provided such responsibilities align with moral and community values,” he said.

Despite increasing participation of women in appointive positions in Katsina State, female candidates have historically struggled to win elective offices due to party reluctance in fielding them for general elections.

Notable exceptions include Mariya Abdullahi, who won a federal seat in the early 1990s, and Hadiza Bala, who contested under the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) in 2011 but lost the election.

Women have also previously served as local government chairpersons in areas such as Mani, Bakori, Dutsin Ma, and Kurfi, though such representation remains limited.

The latest development highlights ongoing tensions between party consensus arrangements, gender inclusion efforts, and religious interpretations in shaping political participation in northern Nigeria.

Source: Premium Times