An Islamic cleric, Sheik Muhammad Khalid, has cautioned Nigerian politicians against exploiting religion in campaigns ahead of the 2027 General Elections, warning that such practices could undermine lawful and ethical governance.
Khalid, popularly known as Digital Imam, spoke in Yola on Saturday at the public presentation of two books by Felix Samari — The Implicated and When My Name Was Not Called. The event focused on “Religion, Identity, Belonging and Future of an Inclusive Nigerian.”
He stressed the need for political actors to comply with electoral laws, arguing that campaigns built around religious exploitation could not produce responsible leadership.
“It’s bad for us to use religion for campaigns because, if we are to use religion, we are becoming lawless according to the law,” he said.
Khalid also urged Nigerians to reject narratives that portray religion negatively or use religious sentiments to distract from issues affecting national development.
Reviewers of the books, Dr Adamu Babikkoi and Johnson Madi, said the author’s experiences highlighted the importance of human dignity and inclusion beyond ethnicity, religion and gender.
They encouraged Samari to expand future editions to reflect regional perspectives and voices from groups outside established religious and gender classifications.
Samari said the publications were aimed at promoting peace, religious tolerance and a more inclusive national identity, adding that he would incorporate the reviewers’ recommendations in subsequent editions.
