…Says it is ‘haram’
Former Nigerian Head of State, AbdulSalami Abubakar, has warned Nigerians against selling their votes ahead of the 2027 general elections, describing the act as sinful and forbidden.
Abubakar gave the warning during a Ramadan Tafsir held at his residence in Minna, Niger state, where he urged citizens to treat their votes as an important tool for electing credible leaders.
According to him, the practice of vote selling is not only harmful to the democratic process but also against Islamic teachings. “Selling of votes is unreligious; your vote is very important, and it is Haram to sell your votes”, the former military leader stated.
He also appealed to politicians to conduct themselves with civility during the electioneering period, urging them to avoid bitterness, rancour, character assassination and mudslinging. Abubakar advised political actors to see elections as a normal democratic competition where there must be winners and losers, rather than approaching it as a do-or-die affair.
Speaking on the current situation in the country, the elder statesman acknowledged the economic hardship being experienced by many Nigerians and called on Muslims to use the Ramadan period to pray for the nation.
He noted that the economy remains challenging but commended wealthy individuals who have been supporting the less privileged during the holy month. “The economy is biting hard, and we are in a difficult situation. I am, however, happy that the well-to-do in society are helping the needy, and we should continue doing this”, he stated.
Abubakar further urged Muslims not to abandon the lessons learned during Ramadan, encouraging them to remain committed to the principles and values of Islam even after the fasting period.
