Activist Warns MURIC Against Stoking Religious Tension Ahead of 2027 Elections

A humanitarian activist, Comrade Kennedy Iyere, has cautioned the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) against actions and statements capable of worsening inter-religious tension as Nigeria approaches the 2027 general elections.

Iyere, who serves as the Coordinator-General of the Youths Economic Intervention and Deradicalisation Programme (YEIDEP), issued the warning following a call by the Kano State chapter of MURIC urging President Bola Tinubu to remove the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu.

The call was reportedly linked to a publication concerning alleged killings of Christians in Nigeria.

In a statement released to journalists on Monday, Iyere warned MURIC’s founder, Prof. Ishaq Akintola, against what he described as rhetoric that could polarise the country along religious lines.

He argued that demanding the removal of the INEC chairman on religious grounds was dangerous and could threaten national stability, especially during a period of heightened political mobilisation ahead of the next elections.

“Using religion as a tool for political agitation poses serious risks to Nigeria’s unity,” Iyere said. “Actions or publications that deepen religious intolerance can provoke unrest and threaten the country’s fragile peace.”

Iyere claimed that some of MURIC’s past interventions had contributed to religious division and urged the organisation to exercise restraint in the interest of national cohesion and peaceful coexistence.

He also advised youths in Kano State not to allow themselves to be drawn into religiously charged narratives that could disrupt inter-faith harmony and social stability.

Specifically, he called on the Kano State Chairman of MURIC, Mallam Hassan Sani Indabawa, to refrain from actions capable of inflaming political or religious tensions in the state.

While acknowledging that insecurity has affected Nigerians across religious lines, Iyere noted that although Christians have often been victims of violence in some regions, Muslims have also suffered attacks.

He urged religious organisations to address insecurity as a collective national challenge rather than framing it in a way that could intensify sectarian sentiments.

Iyere further blamed Nigeria’s political leadership for worsening insecurity and rising youth poverty, arguing that poor governance has made young people increasingly vulnerable to radicalisation and manipulation.

According to him, these conditions have contributed to persistent violence affecting both Christian and Muslim communities.

As the 2027 elections draw closer, Iyere called on Nigerian youths to participate actively in the democratic process by obtaining their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and voting for accountable leadership.

“The power to change the direction of the country lies with the people,” he said. “Young Nigerians must use their votes to demand accountability and reject leaders who fail to deliver good governance.”