Nigeria's Information Minister urges religious leaders to prevent 2027 election hostility

Nigeria’s Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has called on religious leaders to prevent political competition from escalating into religious hostility or violence ahead of the 2027 general elections. Speaking at a conference of Christian bishops in Abuja, Idris emphasized that while leaders have the right to hold political opinions, they must ensure disagreements do not transform into religious or ethnic conflicts.

The Minister warned against framing the nation’s security challenges as a religious war, noting that terrorist and criminal groups target individuals across various faiths to weaken national unity. He urged religious figures to use their significant influence to combat misinformation and hate speech, promoting peace and responsible citizenship instead of division.

Idris reaffirmed the government’s commitment to protecting constitutional rights to religious freedom and highlighted ongoing efforts to strengthen security through improved intelligence and international partnerships, including cooperation with the United States.