JIBWIS Has Not Ordered a Boycott of APC in Kaduna — Albani Samaru
By Idrisa Umar, Zaria
The Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) in Kaduna State and Chairman of Sabon Gari Local Government Area, as well as one of the prominent scholars of the Izala movement in Kaduna State and Nigeria at large, Sheikh Jamilu Abubakar Albani Samaru, has dismissed reports circulating on social media claiming that the Izala organisation (JIBWIS) has resolved to boycott the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 elections.
Sheikh Albani said he was not aware of any decision taken by the leadership of the organisation to boycott the APC or reject the candidature of Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani.
He urged the people of Kaduna State to disregard the report and warned members of the public against spreading information without credible sources, saying such reports could create misunderstanding and division within the community.
According to him, prominent leaders within the organisation are currently investigating the source of the controversy in order to establish what actually happened and take appropriate action.
Sheikh Albani said they would not sit back and allow the matter to create conflict or misunderstanding within the community.
He stressed the importance of respecting the organisation’s leadership and following its established rules and procedures.
He further explained that JIBWIS is an organisation established to promote unity among Muslims and strengthen Islamic teachings, and that it is not a political organisation.
He said members of the organisation must respect one another and refrain from insults or statements capable of causing division, particularly at a time when unverified information is increasingly circulating on social media.
Background to the Report
The clarification followed a report circulating on social media claiming that leaders of the Izala organisation at the Zaria Local Government level, together with some national leaders, held a meeting on Sunday to discuss issues concerning the organisation’s activities and the dispute surrounding the Low-Cost Mosque in Zaria.
During the meeting, Sheikh Imam Abdullahi Telex reportedly expressed concern over what he described as “playing games” with the organisation regarding the ownership and management of the Low-Cost Mosque.
Sheikh Telex said the Izala organisation had always avoided conflict and that its members had for many years used designated places of worship to conduct peaceful Sunnah teachings.
He claimed that the Low-Cost Mosque in Zaria was established, built and maintained for more than 40 years for worship and the teaching of Sunnah.
He also commended the Chairman of Zaria Local Government Area for what he described as his efforts to intervene in the matter, but said there was still a need for the government and the Zazzau Emirate to provide a satisfactory solution.
According to the report, Sheikh Telex also expressed concern over claims by some members of the Darika and Shi'a communities that the mosque belonged to the wider community rather than to any particular organisation.
The report further stated that Sheikh Telex said that if the government failed to recognise what they described as their rights over the mosque, they could reconsider their political position ahead of the 2027 elections.
He was quoted as saying:
“We will not vote for the APC, and we will not vote for Uba Sani as Governor of Kaduna as long as our rights are not recognised.”
However, information from the JIBWIS leadership indicates that the position was not endorsed by the organisation’s entire leadership and that no directive to boycott the APC had been issued on behalf of the organisation.
The organisation’s spokesperson also denied that JIBWIS had reached such a decision and urged the public to disregard the report.
Similarly, the Kaduna State JIBWIS Publicity Secretary, Malam Muhammad Nuriddin Mujahid, dismissed the report in a video statement.
The organisation’s leaders therefore urged members of the public to verify the authenticity of information before sharing it, particularly on social media, in order to prevent anything that could lead to misunderstanding, conflict or division within the community.
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