Religion and Politics in Nigeria: A Study of the 2023 Presidential Election

The paper investigated religion and politics in Nigeria with emphasis on the 2023 presidential election. Nigeria is widely recognised as a deeply divided society, structured along multiple and overlapping cleavages such as ethnicity, region, geopolitical zones, and religion. These fault lines profoundly shape political behaviour and competition. Consequently, the mobilisation of ethnic or religious identities as pathways to political power often assumes a sectarian character, with serious implications for the legitimacy, acceptance, and national appeal of candidates who emerge through such processes. The objectives of the study were to examine the dynamics, conduct, and outcomes of the 2023 Presidential election in Nigeria; and analyse the role and impact of religion on voter behaviour, elite mobilisation, and electoral outcomes during the 2023 Presidential election in Nigeria. The study adopted the elite theory propounded by Robert Michel, Gaetano Mosca and Vilfredo Pareto. The study was based entirely on secondary sources of data. Data were obtained from official records of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and documented materials from registered political parties in Nigeria. In addition, relevant information was drawn from scholarly books, academic journals, magazines, and other credible published materials. The study concluded that the present political arrangement does not appear to have made room for fair representation by the six geo-political zones in the office of the President of Nigeria. Religion, as in times past, will shape the build-up to and outcome of the 2027 Presidential elections. The risk of States and geopolitical zones voting along sectarian lines is high. This may, however, lead to heightened religious sensitivities that may escalate existing tensions and fragilities. The study recommended that government and civil society organisations should intensify voter education campaigns that emphasise the importance of competence, policies, and national unity over religious affiliation when choosing leaders. Keywords: Religion, politics, election, presidential, elite