A humanitarian activist, Comrade Kennedy Iyere, has warned the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) against actions and statements he said could heighten inter-religious tension as the country moves toward the 2027 general elections.

Iyere, the Coordinator-General of the Youths Economic Intervention and Deradicalisation Programme (YEIDEP), issued the warning in response to 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, over a publication relating to alleged killings of Christians in Nigeria.

In a statement made available to journalists on Monday, Iyere cautioned MURIC’s founder, Prof. Ishaq Akintola, against what he described as a pattern of rhetoric capable of polarising the country along religious lines.

He said demanding the removal of the INEC chairman on religious grounds was dangerous and could undermine national stability, especially at a time of heightened political mobilisation ahead of the next general 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 alleged 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 religious or political tensions in the state.
While acknowledging that insecurity has affected Nigerians across religious lines, Iyere noted that although Christians have been frequent victims of violence in some parts of the country, Muslims have also suffered attacks.

He urged religious organisations to address insecurity as a collective national challenge rather than framing it in ways that could inflame 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.

Ahead of the 2027 general elections, Iyere called on Nigerian youths to engage actively in the democratic process by obtaining their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and participating in elections.

“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.”