A prominent Muslim group in Oyo State, Al-Faedat Tijjaniyyah fil-Islam, has endorsed President Bola Tinubu for reelection and adopted Senator Sarafadeen Abiodun Alli as its preferred candidate for the 2027 Oyo State governorship election.
The group said its decision followed months of consultations among its leaders within Nigeria and abroad, as well as prayer sessions seeking divine guidance on the 2027 elections.
The endorsement was announced on Thursday at an emergency meeting organised by the leadership of the movement in Ibadan, where hundreds of members from the 33 local government areas of Oyo State gathered.
The meeting also featured Islamic lectures and special prayers for Nigeria.
Coordinator of the movement in Oyo State, Alhaji Abdullateef Yeskuru Adewale, said the group had been approached by politicians and political parties seeking its support but deliberately delayed making a decision until its consultations were concluded.
Adewale said the movement had resolved to support Tinubu and all candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, citing what he described as the President’s performance and the personal qualities of APC candidates.
“We have been approached by different individuals and parties for possible endorsement of their candidates but we knew we could not do anything without due consultation and divine guidance,” he said.
He added that the movement had a membership of more than 200,000 voters in Oyo State and would mobilise them to support the APC candidates in the 2027 elections.
According to him, prominent Tijjaniyyah leaders, including Alhaji AbdulSalam Adebolu, Khaleefah Salawudeen Tijani and Alhaji Thanni Olafimihan, had participated in consultations on the movement’s political direction ahead of the elections.
Adewale said the endorsement covered the APC presidential candidate, governorship candidate, senatorial and other National and State Assembly candidates.
“We have endorsed all the APC candidates from President Tinubu to Sen. Alli to Hon. Oseni as well as other National and State Assembly candidates of the APC. They will get our massive votes and, by the grace of Allah, there is no going back on this,” he said.
Responding, Alli thanked the Tijjaniyyah movement for its endorsement and described its members as important stakeholders in promoting political awareness, peaceful conduct and tolerance.
“On behalf of President Tinubu and other candidates of the APC, I thank you for this show of love, affection and cooperation,” Alli said.
He assured the group that an APC administration would provide fair treatment and good governance to citizens and religious groups if entrusted with political mandates.
The APC delegation to the meeting was led by the party’s Oyo State Chairman, Chief Moses Alake Adeyemo.
Also present were the party’s deputy governorship candidate, Hon. Adesoji Adedeji, and its Oyo South Senatorial District candidate, Hon. Aderemi Oseni.
Other APC figures at the meeting included Hon. Fatai Adesina, Asiwaju Yemi Aderibigbe, Alhaji Shina Alabi, Dr Kazeem Abimbola-Abogun, Alhaja Tinuade Adigun, Olawale Sadare and Alhaji Lateef Akinsanya.
