The Muslim Community of Lagos State (MCLS) has declared that it will not support any political party that fields a non-Muslim candidate for the 2027 governorship election, citing what it described as persistent marginalisation of Muslims in governance and public appointments.
The position was adopted at the community’s maiden General Assembly held on Saturday at the Lagos State Secretariat Mosque Hall, Alausa, Ikeja, where over 1,000 Muslims from across the state’s divisions and local government areas converged to deliberate on political inclusion, education, and religious rights.
In a communique issued at the end of the four-hour meeting, the assembly said Muslims could no longer tolerate what it termed systemic exclusion from strategic positions, particularly in the education and health sectors.
“We cannot continue to be sidelined in our own state. The Muslim community will only support a candidate who represents our values and interests,” the communique read.
The group specifically demanded equitable representation in the appointment of Tutors-General and Permanent Secretaries across the six education districts, as well as the immediate recruitment of Arabic and Islamic Studies teachers in public schools.
It also urged the Lagos State Government to fully implement the Supreme Court judgment affirming the right of female Muslim students to wear the hijab in public schools, while condemning what it called lingering discrimination against Muslims in public institutions.
Delivering the keynote address on behalf of Deputy Governor Dr Obafemi Hamzat, Alhaji Tajudeen Afolabi blamed poor governance on weak civic responsibility, urging citizens to embrace ethical conduct and active participation in public affairs.
“Followers must rise above indifference and selfishness if meaningful change is to be achieved,” he said.
Several academics, including Prof Saheed Timehin, Prof Nasir Onibon and Prof Abdulkabir Paramole of Lagos State University, also called for value reorientation, stressing that good leadership could only emerge from responsible followership.
Beyond its political resolutions, the assembly ratified its trustees, adopted a new constitution introducing the Islamic consultative system of Shurah for leadership selection, and approved its provisional financial reports for 2024 and 2025, pending audit.
The meeting ended with a renewed call on Muslims across Lagos to unite, strengthen family values and play a decisive role in shaping the political future of the state.
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