By Miriam Humbe
The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) has warned against the growing politicisation and weaponisation of religion in Nigeria’s electoral process, cautioning political actors and religious leaders against exploiting faith to manipulate voters, suppress critical thinking and divert attention from issues of governance and development.
In a statement signed by its Executive Director, Comrade Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, CISLAC said the increasing use of religious platforms to mobilise political support poses a danger to Nigeria’s democracy, national cohesion and peaceful coexistence.
CISLAC said political campaigns should be centred on critical development priorities, including healthcare, education, infrastructure, poverty reduction, employment, security and accountability, rather than religious sentiments and partisan endorsements.
The organisation expressed particular concern over reports of large gatherings of religious leaders in parts of the North to endorse political figures and parties, including reported instances linked to political activities in Plateau and Jigawa States.
According to CISLAC, such practices risk reducing religious authority to an instrument of political patronage and electoral mobilisation.
“Religious leadership is a position of trust and moral guidance, not a commercial platform for vote canvassing or the promotion of political violence and intimidation,” CISLAC said.
The organisation urged religious leaders to resist attempts by politicians to exploit their influence and instead use their platforms to demand accountability, justice, competent leadership and improved welfare for citizens.
CISLAC also condemned the alleged intimidation of residents in Kuje Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory, where individuals were reportedly threatened with eviction if they failed to vote for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The organisation described such alleged threats as a serious assault on citizens’ constitutional rights to freely choose their political representatives, participate in elections and reside peacefully in their communities.
“No political party, candidate or individual has the right to demand exclusive political loyalty from citizens under the threat of expulsion, intimidation or violence,” CISLAC stated.
Rafsanjani called on the Federal Government, state governments, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies and other relevant regulatory authorities to take decisive measures against the use of religious institutions and leaders for electoral manipulation, inducement, intimidation and the dissemination of falsehoods.
CISLAC further urged political parties and candidates to embrace issue-based campaigns and subject themselves to scrutiny on their records, policies, competence and capacity to deliver good governance.
The organisation also appealed to citizens to reject attempts to use religion or ethnicity as a substitute for political accountability, stressing that religious sentiments should not blind voters to the pressing socioeconomic challenges confronting their communities.
CISLAC warned that the continued commercialisation and weaponisation of religion for electoral gain could deepen divisions, undermine democratic institutions and threaten peaceful coexistence across the country.
CISLAC reaffirmed its commitment to monitoring electoral developments and advocating for a democratic culture rooted in competence, transparency, accountability and the genuine interests of the Nigerian people.
