Prophets, Soothsayers, and the Nigerian Political Kingdom: A Study of the Prophetic Voices in the 2023 Presidential Election

The multifaceted relationship between religion and politics in Nigeria permits spiritual leaders to continue influencing the state. The idea of secular humanism that the holy and the material are incompatible has barely restrained the hold of faith in governmental affairs, moral suasion, and shared behaviors. While some observers denounce spiritual leaders for encroaching on the political sphere, others defend them as vital watchdogs of civil society and democracy. Examining how faith leaders engaged with the Nigerian political system during the run-up to the 2023 presidential election sheds light on how religion serves as a conduit for power struggles in a turbulent African democracy. Clerics used the pulpit to exert authority, denounce undesirable politicians, and lobby for votes for favored candidates, a practice that has become a putative component of Nigeria’s electoral culture. This form of political and civil society engagement can foster conflict and entrench sectarian divisions, especially in multiethnic and multireligious societies where clerics with vested interests cloak themselves in the guise of religion.