Nigerian Leaders Urge Religious Figures to Avoid Politics

During the 2026 Second Council Meeting of the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) in Abuja, prominent leaders including Senator George Akume, representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Prof. Cornelius Afebu Omonokhua, and Ola Olukoyede, Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), urged religious leaders to refrain from political campaigning. This admonition follows the signing of the first National Peace Accord on August 18, 2026, by political parties and candidates for the 2027 general elections.

The peace accord mandates signees to engage in issue-based campaigns and avoid violence, hate speech, and misinformation. The Sultan emphasized that religious gatherings should not be used for political attacks and called for prayers for political leaders instead of wishing for their downfall.

He also urged religious leaders to support the EFCC in combating corruption and to avoid using corrupt funds for religious activities. The meeting's theme was “Shared Sacred Flourishing in Nigeria,” highlighting the importance of dialogue for national stability.