Katsina Islamic Clerics Reject APC Female Consensus Candidate, Cite Religious Objections

Islamic clerics in Mani and Bindawa Local Government Areas of Katsina State have rejected the emergence of Jamilu Abdu-Mani as the All Progressives Congress (All Progressives Congress) consensus candidate for the Mani/Bindawa Federal Constituency ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Abdu-Mani, who serves as Special Adviser to Governor Dikko Radda on Girl Child Education and Child Development, was selected through the party’s internal consensus arrangement involving multiple aspirants, including the incumbent House of Representatives member, Ahmad Yusuf.

The process was coordinated by a committee chaired by former governor Aminu Masari, alongside senior party representatives from the state’s senatorial districts.

The announcement has, however, generated opposition from some Islamic clerics in the constituency, who have called on residents and stakeholders to reject her candidature.

Speaking during a religious gathering at Lowcost Mosque in Katsina, cleric Abu Abdullahi said the selection contradicts his understanding of Islamic teachings on leadership.

“As always, when there is an issue like this, we always have a way of settling it. The Prophet, in an authentic Hadith, cautioned us against handing leadership affairs to women. Why do we, people of this constituency, want to deviate from our religious teachings? It’s against our teachings,” he said.

In Bindawa, another cleric, Usman Salisu, also condemned the decision and urged political and community leaders to intervene.

“We have heard rumour that a party has opted for a woman as its flagbearer in the next election. We are respectfully calling on the chairman of Bindawa local government and other stakeholders to challenge this decision, even if it will cost them their positions, because the Prophet said any society that appoints a woman as a leader is doomed,” he said.

The APC’s consensus arrangement in Katsina State was introduced to reduce internal contestation ahead of the 2027 elections. However, the process has faced resistance in some constituencies where aspirants and stakeholders disagreed on outcomes.

Earlier reports indicated that a different consensus candidate had been considered before objections from some aspirants led to a review of the arrangement, eventually resulting in Abdu-Mani’s emergence.

Despite the opposition from some clerics, other Islamic authorities in the state have previously offered a different perspective on women’s participation in leadership.

The State Hisbah leadership, through Abu Ammar, had stated during a stakeholder meeting that Islam does not prohibit women from holding leadership positions, provided such roles align with societal and moral expectations.

Women’s participation in elective politics in Katsina State has remained limited over the years, though there have been isolated cases. Mariya Abdullahi previously represented Bakori/Danja federal constituency between 1992 and 1993, while Hadiza Bala contested the Musawa/Matazu seat in 2011 under the Congress for Progressive Change but was defeated in the general election.