Human rights lawyer and political activist Deji Adeyanju has publicly condemned Peter Obi's renewed attempts to use the church as a political platform, warning that mixing religion with electoral politics risks tearing Nigeria apart. In a statement posted on his X handle @adeyanjudeji on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, Adeyanju said Obi appeared to be returning to the same style of religious mobilisation that inflamed divisions among Nigerians during the 2023 general election campaign.
Adeyanju Condemns Religious Mobilisation as Dangerous for National Unity
Adeyanju, known for his outspoken political commentary, argued that any politician who uses faith communities as a political base is setting a dangerous precedent. He also condemned a governor who recently convened a gathering of religious clerics to publicly endorse President Bola Tinubu, describing the move as equally condemnable.
"The gathering of religious clerics by a governor last week to endorse Tinubu is also condemnable, just as it is troubling to see Peter Obi appearing to return to the same politics of religious mobilisation that divided Nigerians in 2023," Adeyanju said.
Electoral Act 2026 Bars Campaigns in Worship Centres
The lawyer pointed out that the law is unambiguous on the matter. The Electoral Act 2026 explicitly prohibits political campaigns from taking place in places of worship and bars politicians from campaigning along religious, tribal, or sectional lines. Adeyanju argued that both politicians and religious leaders are violating this provision by treating church pulpits as campaign stages.
He called on pastors and religious leaders to stop giving politicians platforms inside their congregations. "Pastors must desist from platforming politicians if they are to retain their respect and keep the house of God sacred," he said.
Elections Should Be About Ideas, Not Faith
In his statement, Adeyanju argued that electoral contests should be driven by policy proposals and competing visions for governance, not by religious identity or ethnic loyalty. He warned that the country cannot afford to repeat, let alone worsen, what happened during the 2023 campaigns.
"Elections should be about ideas, policies and competing visions for Nigeria. Religion and politics should never be allowed to become instruments of division," he said. He also pushed back on remarks attributed to President Tinubu suggesting that all is fair in politics, saying that framing is wrong and ought to be rejected.
Meanwhile, Legit.ng also reported that a public affairs analyst outlined 7 key areas Peter Obi must address to gain the trust of northern voters ahead of the 2027 elections. The analyst warned that Obi's 2023 gains in North-Central and urban areas were not enough, with major gaps remaining in North-West and North-East rural regions. From security and the Almajiri system to running mate selection and campaign language, the recommendations target specific northern concerns.
