ABUJA, NIGERIA — A northern-based group has cautioned religious clerics against turning church pulpits and other religious platforms into channels for partisan political campaigns ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
The group urged religious leaders to maintain neutrality in their public engagements and avoid using their spiritual influence to promote political parties, candidates or personal political interests.
It warned that the growing intersection between religion and partisan politics could undermine the credibility of religious institutions and create unnecessary divisions among worshippers, particularly as political activities gradually intensify ahead of the next general elections.
According to the group’s position, places of worship should remain environments where people from different political backgrounds can gather for spiritual guidance, moral instruction and religious fellowship without feeling pressured to support particular political interests.
The group stressed that clerics occupy influential positions in society and that their public statements can significantly shape the opinions and attitudes of their followers. It therefore called on religious leaders to exercise restraint when discussing political developments, especially during sermons and other religious gatherings.
While acknowledging the importance of religious participation in national conversations, the group maintained that spiritual leadership should not be confused with partisan political mobilisation.
It also encouraged clerics to use their platforms to promote peaceful coexistence, national unity, responsible citizenship, justice and accountability rather than deepen political divisions.
The warning comes as Nigeria gradually approaches the 2027 general elections, a period expected to generate increased political activities, public debates and competition among political parties and their candidates.
Political campaigns in Nigeria frequently involve discussions around governance, security, economic development, public accountability and the welfare of citizens. Religious institutions also remain important spaces for public engagement, given their influence across communities.
However, the use of religious platforms for partisan political messaging has continued to raise questions about the appropriate relationship between faith institutions and electoral politics.
The group’s intervention highlights concerns about maintaining the distinction between religious responsibilities and political interests while protecting the independence of worshippers to make their own electoral decisions.
It further underscores the importance of responsible public communication by influential individuals and institutions during election periods.
As preparations for the 2027 elections gather momentum, the group called on religious leaders to exercise caution in their public pronouncements and ensure that their messages do not encourage hostility or discrimination based on political affiliation.
The development also places renewed attention on the responsibilities of religious institutions in promoting peaceful democratic participation and encouraging constructive engagement among citizens.
Ultimately, the group wants religious platforms to remain spaces for spiritual development and moral guidance rather than become extensions of political campaign organisations.
With the 2027 elections approaching, how religious leaders navigate political discussions could become an important part of the broader conversation about national unity, freedom of expression and responsible civic participation in Nigeria.
