The Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar, has urged Nigerians to ignore the rumour that he endorsed President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 presidential election and declared he would not endorse him for a second term.

A statement by the sultan’s media team, signed by Bashir Adefaka on Tuesday, described the rumour as a malicious and unpatriotic attempt to drag the revered personality of the Sultan into partisan politics for selfish interests.

“The attention of the Media Team of the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, CFR, mni, has been drawn to a report circulating on some social media platforms, creating the impression that the Sultan has called on Nigerians to support the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.

“Our simple response to the report is that it is not possible for the sultan, as the father of all, to make such a statement, either publicly or in any other forum,” the statement said.

The statement urged the public to reject any attempt to misrepresent the sultan’s position or link him with the political campaign or candidacy of any candidate ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Noting that the institutions of monarchy and religion led by the sultan are institutions of a father figure, the statement said Mr Abubakar remained “within the purview of that role by offering fatherly, royal and spiritual blessings, as well as guidance, to Nigerian politicians who seek his counsel and blessings”.

It added, “The sultan’s doors cannot be shut against anyone who comes to him, regardless of political affiliation or persuasion. His Eminence has consistently demonstrated that he is the father of all and will continue to relate with all Nigerians without discrimination.”

The statement reaffirmed the sultan’s commitment to peace, unity, stability and peaceful coexistence in Nigeria, warning media and social media users against circulating information that could mislead the public and drag religious institutions into partisan political controversies.