{
  "id": 4082256,
  "title": "Islamic Cleric Faults Claim 500 Northern Scholars Endorsed Tinubu",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/29/islamic-cleric-faults-claim-500-northern-scholars-endorsed-tinubu",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-29T01:36:11.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "This Day",
    "slug": "this-day",
    "url": "https://www.thisdaylive.com/2026/08/29/islamic-cleric-faults-claim-500-northern-scholars-endorsed-tinubu/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "An Islamic cleric from Dutse has denied claims that more than 500 scholars endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for re-election in 2027. Sheikh Abdurrahman Abubakar Azzamfari clarified that the endorsement was neither discussed nor agreed upon by the participants at the Muslim Intellectual Forum meeting. In a video message, Azzamfari stated, “The talk that 500 scholars at the meeting agreed to endorse and re-elect Tinubu is not true. That was not discussed with us at all.” He also questioned whether the scholars were given a chance to present their concerns before any discussion of political support. Azzamfari pointed out that the meetings organized by the Muslim Intellectual Forum aimed to enable Muslim scholars to advise the government and support citizens, not to engage in politics. He criticized the conduct of some meetings, such as the use of loud music during a previous gathering in Kaduna. Regarding the Dutse meeting, he alleged that participants had to wait for several hours before the officials addressed them and that journalists were initially asked to leave before being invited back. Azzamfari emphasized the importance of consulting the scholars before announcing any endorsement and warned against using religious leaders for political purposes.",
  "summary": "Ibrahim Shuaibu in Dutse An Islamic cleric who attended a meeting of Muslim scholars in northern Nigeria has disputed claims that more than 500 participants endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for",
  "key_points": [
    "Islamic cleric Sheikh Abdurrahman Abubakar Azzamfari denies claim of 500 scholars endorsing Tinubu.",
    "Muslim Intellectual Forum meeting did not discuss or agree to endorse Tinubu."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}