Adeyanju condemns Obi’s church politics
Human rights lawyer and public affairs commentator, Deji Adeyanju, Esq., has condemned what he described as the renewed patronage of churches by former Anambra State Governor and Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, warning that the politicisation of religion could further deepen Nigeria’s divisions.
Adeyanju, in a statement, said elections should be centred on ideas, policies and competing visions for the country rather than religion, describing places of worship as inappropriate platforms for political campaigns and endorsements.
He maintained that politicians should not turn churches into venues for political mobilisation, while pastors and religious leaders should equally resist providing their pulpits for political campaigns or endorsements.
According to him, the Electoral Act 2026 expressly prohibits the use of places of worship for political campaigns and also bars campaigns conducted on religious, tribal or sectional grounds.
Adeyanju also condemned the recent gathering of religious clerics by a governor for the purpose of endorsing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, describing the development as equally unacceptable.
He, however, expressed particular concern over what he perceived as Obi’s return to the politics of religious mobilisation that characterised the 2023 presidential election.
Adeyanju warned that continued exploitation of religious sentiments for political purposes could have serious consequences for Nigeria’s unity and democratic development.
“At what cost will it be when we continue to divide ourselves along religious lines using the weapon of politics? At what cost?” he asked.
He urged Nigerians and political actors to learn from the experience of the 2023 elections and avoid repeating what he described as a dangerous precedent.
“The bad precedent set in 2023 should not be repeated, let alone worsened,” Adeyanju said.
The lawyer further called on pastors and other religious leaders to desist from providing political platforms to politicians, arguing that doing so could undermine the sanctity and credibility of religious institutions.
“Pastors must desist from platforming politicians if they are to retain their respect and keep the house of God sacred,” he stated.
Adeyanju stressed that political competition must have boundaries, rejecting the notion that politicians could employ every available means in pursuit of electoral advantage.
“All is not fair in politics. All is not fair in politics like President Tinubu wrongly said,” he added.
