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KATSINA, NIGERIA — SEPTEMBER 17, 2026 — The influential Darika Islamic Sect in Katsina State has formally declared its endorsement of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Dikko Umaru Radda for the 2027 general elections, pledging full political backing to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The endorsement was announced on Thursday by Malam Mahi Bello, Special Assistant to the Governor on Darika Sect, during a prayer gathering and political rally hosted at the Ameera Events Centre in Katsina. Organized jointly by the Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi Foundation and the Maituraka Foundation, the event also featured a social welfare initiative that provided financial empowerment support to 500 women.
Governor Radda Urges Focus on Performance and Security Vigilance
Addressing the gathering, Governor Dikko Umaru Radda described public office as a sacred trust, thanking the organizing foundations and reminding citizens that elected officials must answer directly to the electorate for their performance. Recalling his 2023 electoral victory where he secured 859,892 votes, Radda urged citizens to evaluate political administrations based on verifiable projects, program execution, and measurable community impact rather than partisan sentiments.
Highlighting the working relationship between Katsina State and the Federal Government under President Tinubu, the Governor emphasized that developmental collaboration had yielded key benefits for the state. He urged residents to remain law-abiding citizens and maintain heightened vigilance to assist security forces combating regional threats, noting that critical intelligence needed to neutralize criminal elements often originates within local communities.
Masari, Clerics Call for Youth and Religious Participation in Governance
Former Katsina State Governor Aminu Bello Masari also spoke at the event, advocating for the active inclusion of Islamic scholars, community leaders, and persons of high moral character in mainstream politics. Masari noted that sustainable governance depends on intentional succession planning, adding that the participation of credible community figures ensures the emergence of responsible leadership capable of building on past achievements.
Representing the Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi Foundation, Sheikh Nasiru Dahiru Usman Bauchi commended the Radda administration for prioritizing education, youth empowerment, and sponsoring Qur’anic memorizers to pursue medical and health-related fields. Concurrently, Chairman of the Maituraka Foundation, Abdulaziz Maituraka, alongside Katsina State APC Deputy Chairman Hon. Bala Abu Musawa, reaffirmed the foundation’s total commitment to the APC, pledging sustained intervention programs targeting women and youth welfare across the state.
