Religious scholars, faith leaders and government officials have called for collective efforts to ensure the peaceful conduct of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections by promoting tolerance, rejecting hate speech and strengthening interfaith dialogue.

The call was made on Friday during the 9th Interfaith Peace Conference and Award Presentation held in Bauchi.

The conference, organised by the Interfaith Dialogue Forum for Peace (IDFP) in collaboration with the International Dialogue Centre (KAICIID) and the Bauchi State Government, had as its theme: “Non-Violent Elections: The Role of Faith and Traditional Leaders in Nigeria.”

Speaking at the event, Dr. Abdullahi Abubakar of the International Institute of Islamic Banking and Finance, Bayero University Kano, said all stakeholders must recognise that peaceful elections are critical to protecting lives, strengthening democracy and promoting national development.

He stressed that while elections could be won or lost, lives lost to violence could never be restored, describing peaceful elections as a moral responsibility that reflects the values and collective conscience of a nation.
According to him, election violence often begins long before polling day through hateful rhetoric, intolerance, misinformation, incitement, religious exploitation, poverty and injustice.

“Violence does not begin on the streets; it begins in the hearts, words and values of the people,” he said.
Abubakar urged religious leaders to avoid manipulating religious teachings for political interests or to justify hatred and division, noting that their messages carry enormous influence over millions of followers.

He advised faith leaders to verify information before sharing it, encourage dialogue, promote mutual understanding and serve as advocates of peace within their communities. He said transforming individual attitudes would ultimately lead to peaceful communities, credible elections and a more stable, just and prosperous Nigeria.

Also speaking, Rev. Fr. Zaka Ahuce of the Theological College of Northern Nigeria urged religious leaders to continue championing peace, tolerance and national unity as preparations for the 2027 elections gather momentum.

Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, also appealed to religious and traditional leaders to intensify efforts at promoting peaceful coexistence and preventing election-related violence. Represented by his Chief of Staff, Alhaji Yakubu Kunbala, the governor described the conference theme as timely, saying sustained interfaith dialogue was essential for building trust, harmony and national cohesion.

“We live in an ethnically and religiously diverse society. Therefore, we need to understand and respect our differences for social harmony, political stability and equitable prosperity,” he said.

He added that no meaningful development could thrive in an atmosphere of mistrust and conflict, stressing that peace remained the foundation for justice, harmony and shared progress.

Mohammed further noted that both Islam and Christianity promote the sanctity of human life and love for humanity, urging Nigerians to focus on shared values rather than differences.

“When hunger strikes, it does not differentiate between Muslims and Christians. When poverty knocks, it does not check our creed. We must pay more attention to what unites us than what divides us,” the governor said.