Abbo Raises Alarm Over Religious Politics in Adamawa, Urges Issue Based Campaigns Ahead of 2027 - TG News
Senator Ishaku AbboBy Umar Zubainatu KambariFormer Adamawa North Senator and 2027 governorship aspirant, Senator Ishaku Abbo, has expressed concern over what he described as the growing religious dimension of. . .
Senator Ishaku AbboBy Umar Zubainatu KambariFormer Adamawa North Senator and 2027 governorship aspirant, Senator Ishaku Abbo, has expressed concern over what he described as the growing religious dimension of politics in Adamawa State, warning that it could undermine democratic values and encourage voters to make electoral choices based on faith rather than competence and policy. In a statement released on Monday, Abbo said recent developments on social media had heightened religious and political tensions in the state, stressing that elections should be decided on candidates’ vision, competence and manifestos rather than religious identity. He cited the circulation of two voice notes allegedly recorded by the same individual, who identified himself as a Christian and reportedly urged Christians not to vote for a Muslim candidate in the 2027 governorship election. According to Abbo, the recordings later spread to Muslim WhatsApp groups, escalating political and religious tensions. The former senator also referred to an open letter published on a Facebook page identified as “Tijjani Galadima Ambassadors,” which allegedly advised Christians against supporting a Christian governorship candidate in Adamawa, arguing that doing so would amount to repeating what it described as the “Peter Obi mistake of 2023. ”Abbo said the publication was widely circulated across Facebook and Christian WhatsApp groups, generating strong reactions and deepening religious divisions. He urged residents of the state to resist attempts to politicise religion. “Religion is sacred. It should unite us, not divide us,” he said, adding that governance suffers when elections are determined by religious or ethnic sentiments instead of performance and ideas. The governorship hopeful also raised concerns over what he described as attempts by political leaders to influence religious organisations for political purposes. He alleged that Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri recently hosted officials of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) at the Government House in Yola, where he was reported to have advised Christian leaders not to endorse any governorship candidate until he gives them direction. According to Abbo, the governor was also reported to have acknowledged the internal crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and said he had been unable to resolve it. Abbo argued that religious organisations should remain independent and that elected officials should not influence their political decisions. “The Governor is not the Pope, an Archbishop or the General Overseer of Christians in Adamawa State. He should therefore not presume to direct Christians on who to support politically,” he said. He maintained that if any candidate wishes to seek public support, it should be done through campaigns centred on achievements, policies and development plans rather than religious influence. The former senator equally called on the individual behind the circulating voice notes to desist from what he described as divisive politics and instead engage in peaceful grassroots mobilisation. He also urged the administrators of the “Tijjani Galadima Ambassadors” platform to withdraw the publication and apologise for content he said many citizens considered divisive. Abbo further appealed to bloggers, social media influencers and opinion leaders to avoid amplifying messages capable of inflaming religious tensions. He noted that Adamawa had long enjoyed peaceful coexistence among people of different religious backgrounds and warned against allowing politics to destroy that harmony. Reaffirming his governorship ambition, Abbo said he intends to build an inclusive administration that respects every citizen regardless of religion or ethnicity. “I am not asking for your vote because I am a Christian or because I am a Muslim. I am asking for your vote because I have a clear vision, a practical plan, and the courage to build a better Adamawa for every citizen,” he said. He concluded by urging Christians and Muslims alike to reject candidates who exploit religion and instead support leaders based on competence, integrity, vision and commitment to public service. The Governor’s Office and the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) had not publicly responded to Abbo’s claims at the time of filing this report. 📰 Get Latest News UpdatesJoin our Telegram group and receive breaking and trending news updates directly on your phone. Join for News Updates✕