Primate Elijah Ayodele has urged Nigerians, especially young people, to avoid violence and blind loyalty during elections, saying politicians can use and abandon their supporters and even pastors after elections.
The leader of the INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele, has warned Nigerians against allowing politicians to manipulate them into violence, saying political actors often use people during elections and abandon them after securing political power.
Ayodele gave the warning in a video shared on TikTok on Monday while advising Nigerians, particularly young people, to be careful about the level of commitment they give to politicians during election periods.
The cleric argued that political supporters should not be encouraged to fight, harm themselves or risk their lives for politicians whose interests may ultimately be different from those of their followers.
According to Ayodele, politicians across different political parties may present themselves as bitter opponents during election campaigns, but the relationship between political leaders can be very different from what their supporters perceive.
He therefore urged Nigerians to look beyond political rivalry and avoid allowing party politics to create unnecessary hostility among citizens.
Ayodele also extended his warning to religious leaders, saying politicians can make use of pastors and other religious figures when they need political support but later abandon them when their electoral objectives have been achieved.
His comments come amid increasing political activity ahead of Nigeria's 2027 general elections, with politicians and political parties already engaging in consultations, alliances and mobilisation across the country.
The cleric's warning also reflects a broader concern about the role of young people in political campaigns, particularly when supporters become involved in confrontations or violence because of their loyalty to political candidates.
Ayodele urged Nigerians to protect their lives and interests rather than allowing political differences to turn them against one another.
His comments add to the growing calls from religious, political and civil society figures for peaceful political participation as Nigeria approaches another major election cycle.
The Primate has previously made several interventions on political and national issues, including warnings concerning the country's security situation and calls for political leaders to address challenges affecting citizens.
As political activities intensify, Ayodele's message places emphasis on the need for citizens to remain politically aware without becoming instruments of violence or sacrificing their personal safety for political interests.