NADAC removes ASWAJ National Imam Hajj Umar after vote of no confidence
Accra: The National Da’awa Council (NADAC) of Ahlussunna Wal Jama’a (ASWAJ) has declared the National Imam position vacant after passing a vote of no confidence in Sheikh Umar Ibrahim Imam and declared him removed from office as National Imam, effective November 4, 2026.
The decision, contained in a resolution dated November 4, was taken under Article 11(3) of the ASWAJ Constitution, which provides for the removal of the National Imam through a vote of no confidence supported by at least two-thirds of the members of the council or committee that elected him.
The resolution said 21 members voted in favour of the motion, while four members were absent.
Article 11(3) explicitly states that the National Imam may be removed from office “when two-thirds or more of the members of the council/committee that elected him passes a vote of no confidence in him.”
The 21 votes exceed the ASWAJ constitutional threshold, with the membership figures in the resolution indicating a total of 25 members and a minimum of 17 affirmative votes required to meet the two-thirds requirement.
They include Dr Ismael Saeed Adam, Vice Chairman and Imam for the Ashanti Region; Sheikh Suleyman Ahmed Mozu, Secretary and Imam for the Western Region; Sheikh Mohammed Ateeq Mohammed, Imam for the Eastern Region; Sheikh Ahmed Haroun Toure, Imam for the Central Region; and Sheikh Mutawakil Mohammed, Imam for the Volta Region.
The other regional imams listed are Sheikh Ahmed Tijaani Gaogaro of Bono East, Sheikh Ibrahim Saeed Abdul Rahman of Bono, Sheikh Yahuza Mohammed of Ahafo, Sheikh Musah Abubakar Biyaw of Oti, Sheikh Mohammed Gausu of Upper West, Sheikh Abdallah Saari of Upper East, Sheikh Abubakar Umar Ishaq of Savannah, Sheikh Ahmed Mohammed Faidallah of North East, Sheikh Mohammed Nuhu of Western North, and Sheikh Bashaa Ibrahim of the Northern Region.
The remaining members are Sheikh Abdul-Razak Abdallah Swallah, Sheikh Alhassan Uthman Al-Fadle and Sheikh Mohammed Amin Husein, all from the Ashanti Region; Sheikh Umar Sawallah of Upper West; Sheikh Mubaarak Tahir of Upper East; and Sheikh Swallah Abubakar of Greater Accra.
The four members listed as absent are Sheikh Dr Bashir Adam, Sheikh Zackaria Addo, Sheikh Khidir Adam and Sheikh Dr Abbass Sakhr.
NADAC said the decision followed its consideration of allegations of constitutional violations and misconduct against Sheikh Umar in his capacity as National Imam.
It said Sheikh Umar had been formally notified of the allegations through a notice dated October 18, 2026, and given until October 27 to respond.
However, the Council said it had not received any formal written response or verbal communication from the Office of the National Imam by the time it considered the matter.
The resolution stated, “The National Da’awa Council records the passage of a vote of no confidence in SHEIKH UMAR IBRAHIM IMAM, pursuant to Article (11)(3) of the ASWAJ Constitution, based on the voting outcome recorded by the Council.”
It subsequently declared him removed from office, adding that the removal took effect from the date the resolution was adopted.
NADAC’s constitutional authority
The decision brings into focus the constitutional authority of NADAC in the governance and leadership of ASWAJ.
Article 7(C)(1) of the organisation’s Constitution provides that “the election of the National Imam and his two (2) deputies shall be done by the NADAC.”
The provision places the election of the National Imam and the two deputies within the mandate of NADAC, making the Council a central institution in the organisation’s leadership structure.
Article 11(3) further provides the basis for the Council’s action against an incumbent National Imam through a vote of no confidence meeting the stipulated two-thirds threshold.
The Constitution also addresses the conduct of Council meetings. Article 14(6) provides that a meeting is legitimate and a quorum is formed when two-thirds of the membership is present.
Based on the 25-member figure indicated in the resolution, the presence of 21 members would exceed the ordinary two-thirds quorum requirement.
The resolution also directs that arrangements be made for the election of a substantive National Imam in accordance with the Constitution.
Office declared vacant
Following the removal, NADAC declared the office of the National Imam vacant and directed Sheikh Umar to hand over all ASWAJ properties and institutional records in his possession.
The directive covers official documents, stamps, records and other organisational assets, which are to be transferred to the appropriate authorised officer of ASWAJ.
The Council also directed that relevant registration authorities, financial institutions and other stakeholders be formally notified of the resolution and any consequential changes, in accordance with applicable procedures.
It said the measures were necessary following the declaration of the vacancy and to facilitate the process of electing a substantive National Imam.
Background to leadership dispute
The decision comes amid a prolonged leadership dispute within ASWAJ involving disagreements over constitutional interpretation, the status of national office holders and the authority of the organisation’s governing bodies.
A recent point of contention concerned the appointment by Sheikh Umar of two acting National Deputy Imams, Sheikh Muneer Abdullah Tawfiq and Sheikh Muhammad Awal Abdullah Hafiz.
The announcement said neither would be designated First or Second National Deputy Imam, stating that “nobody will be first, nobody will be second.”
The appointments raised questions about their conformity with the constitutional structure, particularly because ASWAJ already had Sheikh Mohammed Kamil Mohammed Kamil as First National Deputy Imam and Sheikh Amin Osman Tanko as Second National Deputy Imam.
The Constitution recognises the two deputy positions as distinct offices and assigns their election to NADAC under Article 7(C)(1).
It also identifies the National Imam and the two deputies as members of the National Executive Council (NEC), alongside other national office holders.
The First Deputy has responsibility for Da’awa and defined functions in the absence of the National Imam, while the Second Deputy has responsibility for education and performs specified duties when the First Deputy is unavailable.
The latest NADAC resolution does not expressly determine the status of the two acting deputy appointments or the existing deputies. Its immediate focus is the removal of Sheikh Umar and the declaration of the office of National Imam as vacant.
The Council called on ASWAJ members and stakeholders to remain calm, uphold the Constitution and preserve peace, unity and the integrity of the organisation.
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