The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has demanded the immediate arrest and prosecution of prominent Islamic cleric, Sheikh Sani Yahaya Jingir, over what it described as hate speech capable of inciting religious hatred, undermining national unity and threatening peaceful preparations for the 2027 general elections.

In one of its strongest interventions on election-related rhetoric ahead of the next polls, the Commission said the cleric's alleged comments, captured in a viral video, crossed the line between freedom of expression and unlawful incitement, insisting that the matter must not be treated lightly.

The Executive Secretary of the NHRC, Chief Tony Ojukwu, said the Commission reviewed the video and found the remarks deeply troubling, particularly references to people of other faiths as "infidels" and calls that appeared to encourage political mobilisation along religious lines.

According to him, such statements are not mere opinions but dangerous expressions capable of fostering intolerance, deepening divisions and provoking hostility among citizens in a country already grappling with ethnic and religious tensions.

"The Commission finds these remarks to be hate speech and incitement to religious hatred and potential violence," Ojukwu said.

"At a time when Nigeria is preparing for another general election, such utterances are reckless, irresponsible and dangerous."

The Commission warned that religious leaders wield enormous influence over their followers and must therefore be held accountable when their words have the potential to incite discrimination, hostility or violence.

It stressed that Nigeria's constitutional guarantees of freedom of expression do not extend to speech that promotes hatred or encourages actions capable of threatening public order and peaceful coexistence.

Ojukwu said allowing influential figures to make inflammatory statements without consequences would send a dangerous signal that hate speech is acceptable in the country's political environment.

He argued that failure to act decisively now could embolden other clerics, politicians and opinion leaders to adopt increasingly provocative rhetoric as the 2027 elections approach.

"We cannot afford to look away," he said.

Advertisement

"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."

Consequently, the Commission called on the Inspector-General of Police, the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS) and other relevant law enforcement agencies to immediately investigate, arrest and prosecute the cleric in accordance with the law.

The NHRC maintained that any prosecution must be pursued without regard to the cleric's social standing, religious influence or political affiliations, insisting that equal application of the law remains fundamental to justice and democratic governance.

According to the Commission, selective enforcement of laws relating to hate speech and incitement would only weaken public confidence in state institutions and encourage further abuse of religious platforms for political purposes.

The human rights body further warned that Nigeria's electoral process must not be allowed to become a battleground for religious supremacy, stressing that elections should be determined by issues of leadership, competence, accountability and service delivery rather than appeals to faith or identity.

Ojukwu urged religious leaders across the country to exercise restraint and use their influence to promote peace, tolerance and mutual respect instead of rhetoric capable of inflaming passions and creating divisions among citizens.

He also called on Nigerians to reject attempts by political actors and religious figures to manipulate religious sentiments for electoral gain.

The Commission pledged to continue monitoring political and religious discourse ahead of the 2027 elections and to work closely with security agencies, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and civil society organisations to prevent the spread of hate speech and election-related violence.

With political activities expected to intensify in the coming months, the NHRC's position signals a growing determination to confront inflammatory rhetoric before it escalates into a threat to national peace and security.

For the Commission, the issue is no longer merely about controversial remarks by a cleric. It is about defending the principles of tolerance, protecting Nigeria's democratic space and ensuring that those who promote hatred or division are held accountable under the law.