Oyo State Governor and Allied Peoples Movement (APM) presidential candidate Seyi Makinde has urged Nigerians to reject religious division as the country prepares for the 2027 general elections. Speaking at the opening of a three-day conference organized by the League of Imams and Alfas in Yorubaland in Ibadan, Makinde highlighted his family’s mixed religious heritage to argue that faith should not cause conflict. He noted that his paternal grandfather was Muslim and that approximately 65 percent of his extended family members practice Islam. According to Punch, he stated, "He lived and died as a Muslim," insisting that such familial bonds demonstrate that religion cannot divide the people of Oyo State. Makinde called on religious scholars to promote peace and mutual understanding among citizens.
The League of Imams and Alfas in Yorubaland clarified that it would remain strictly non-partisan. Muhammad Abdullahi El-Ilory, the league’s Board of Trustees chairman, told Punch that the organization would not endorse any political party or candidate. He emphasized that their role is to pray for credible leadership rather than engage in partisan politics. League President Jamiu Kewulere reinforced this stance, asserting that Islamic clerics should focus on guiding their followers and preaching religious principles rather than participating in political campaigns. The event was attended by various political figures, including APM governorship candidate Bimbo Adekanmbi, who praised Makinde’s administration in Oyo State as a model for national governance.
In a separate development, Ugandan Minister of Water and Environment Maj. Gen. (Rtd) Kahinda Otafiire addressed similar concerns in the Kigezi sub-region. During celebrations marking the 40th anniversary of the Kigezi Diocese Water and Sanitation Programme at Rugarama Cathedral, Otafiire urged Christians to overcome denominational differences to accelerate regional development. According to Nile Post, he questioned why believers would allow divisions to hinder progress when they share the same faith. He challenged communities to mobilize domestic resources rather than relying on external donors, stating, "As Uganda, we should always look for our own money instead of relying on donors."
Bishop Gaddie Akanjuna of the Kigezi Diocese thanked partners for the programme’s contributions to public health and hygiene. Political leaders in attendance, including Ndorwa West Member of Parliament Eliab Naturinda Mporera, commended the church’s role in social development. Both leaders have framed religious unity not just as a moral imperative, but as a practical necessity for economic progress and political stability in their respective nations.