Prominent Islamic scholar, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has dismissed the United States’ designation of Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) over alleged religious persecution, labeling the move as politically motivated and linked to the 2027 general elections.

In a statement on his Facebook page, Gumi reacted to the decision by U.S. President Donald Trump, who acted on calls to place Nigeria on a watch-list for the alleged massacre of Christians—a claim the Nigerian presidency has repeatedly denied.

Gumi framed the development as a result of external interference fueled by internal divisions. He blamed “unpatriotic bigot clerics” for aiding imperialists to “divide us further so that they can pillage our resources.”

“It is evident now we are sharing a country not only with evil people from banditry, BH [Boko Haram], IPOB and other criminals… we have many unpatriotic bigot clerics that are aiding imperialists,” Gumi stated.

He questioned the United States’ moral authority to intervene, pointing to domestic challenges within the country. “At a time when Americans are lining up for food rations, what concerns them with our internal problems?” he asked.

The cleric asserted that the core issue is not a lack of effort in tackling insecurity, but a failure to deploy the right strategies. He alleged that the true objective behind the international pressure is to influence Nigeria’s political landscape ahead of the 2027 elections.

“All the bluff is about 2027,” Gumi claimed, further warning of a potential danger: “Those who armed the outlaws as NGOs and come around to claim piety. The danger to us is that they form and start arming another Militia like they have done in other places.”

The statement concludes with a call for a paradigm shift in Nigerian foreign policy, urging the nation to identify its true enemies.