The National Human Rights Commission has called for the immediate arrest and prosecution of Islamic cleric, Sheikh Sani Yahaya Jingir, accusing him of making inflammatory remarks capable of stoking religious hatred and violence ahead of the 2027 elections.

The NHRC Executive Secretary, Chief Tony Ojukwu, SAN, made the demand on Monday after the Commission reviewed a viral video in which Jingir allegedly advocated religiously exclusive politics, described people of other faiths as “infidels” and urged his supporters to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards to “show their limit.”

Ojukwu warned that such rhetoric could deepen Nigeria’s religious fault lines and create a dangerous environment ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He described the comments as “hate speech and incitement to religious hatred and potential violence,” saying the Commission would not remain silent while influential individuals used religion to mobilise citizens along divisive lines.

“At a time when we are preparing for another general election, such utterances are reckless and dangerous.

They serve no purpose other than to divide Nigerians along religious lines and set citizens against one another,” Ojukwu said.

The human rights commission called on the Inspector-General of Police, the Director-General of the Department of State Services and other relevant authorities to immediately arrest and prosecute the cleric.

Ojukwu, who is also Nigeria’s Chief Human Rights Officer, insisted that prosecution should proceed irrespective of Jingir’s status, influence or political affiliation, arguing that decisive action would deter other religious and political actors from exploiting faith for electoral gain.

“We cannot afford to look away. If we fail to speak and act now, we embolden both Christian and Muslim clerics and other influential persons to make worse statements in the coming months. That path leads only to crisis,” he said.

The NHRC said the alleged remarks violated the principles of equality, non-discrimination and peaceful coexistence guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution and Nigeria’s international human rights obligations.

It further warned religious leaders, politicians and traditional rulers against inflammatory rhetoric as political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 elections.

The Commission urged Nigerians to reject identity politics and judge political leaders on competence, service delivery and respect for human rights rather than religious or ethnic affiliation.

Ojukwu said the NHRC would continue monitoring inflammatory statements and work with security agencies, the Independent National Electoral Commission and civil society organisations to help prevent hate speech from degenerating into election-related violence.

“The Commission will continue to monitor compliance and will engage with security agencies, INEC, and civil society to ensure that the 2027 elections are free from hate and violence,” he said.