A prominent Islamic human rights organisation, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has declared that it will seek to engage potential presidential and gubernatorial candidates in dialogue ahead of the 2027 general elections, in a push for politicians to commit to addressing the welfare and civil liberties of Muslims and all citizens.

MURIC said that Muslim stakeholders would contact hopefuls at both national and state levels to understand their plans for the community and for Nigerians in general.

In a statement issued by the group’s executive director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, MURIC announced its intention to use the pre-election period for “collective bargaining” and to secure the commitment of candidates.

“Nigerian Muslims are willing to engage in dialogue with potential candidates, whether Muslims or Christians, on the 2027 general elections,” the statement read.

Akintola claimed that despite their large numbers, Muslims had endured “unfavourable conditions” since independence in 1960 and that their “demographic superiority has not translated to anything better particularly in terms of realisation of Muslim civil liberties.”

He criticised successive administrations, including those led by Muslims, for allegedly ignoring their demands, which have been forwarded through “petitions, courtesy visits, (and) peaceful rallies, etc, all to no avail to date.”

Prof Akintola stressed that the dialogue was a form of political leverage, drawing a parallel with democratic struggles in other nations. “Throughout the history of democratic struggles, whether in the United States, Britain or France, election periods are used by communities and interest groups to showcase their demands and to subsequently base their voting patterns on such demands,” he said. He added that Muslims were determined to “continue the struggle albeit using peaceful, legitimate and constitutional means” and insisted that

“Muslim votes must count through palpable results which favour Muslim demands and which ameliorate the sufferings of Nigerians like hunger, poverty and homelessness.”

The group advised Muslim leaders and stakeholders to begin contacting the candidates to establish what they “have in stock for Muslims in particular and for Nigerian citizens in general.”