Primate Elijah Ayodele, leader of the INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, has warned Nigerians, particularly youths and political supporters, against risking their lives for politicians ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The cleric, in a video circulating online on Monday, August 17, 2026, said politicians could offer supporters money and abandon them after achieving their political goals.
Ayodele Warns Against Political Exploitation
Ayodele described Nigerian politicians as “use-and-dump” operators, warning supporters against accepting financial inducements at the expense of their safety.
“Nigerian politicians are use-and-dump. They are evil; they even use people like us. The 2027 election is coming soon. Don’t let Nigerian politicians use you because of the ₦500,000 or anything they give you,” he said.
The cleric questioned whether politicians would expose their own children to the same risks they ask supporters to take.
“If anything happens to you, it’s your headache. Keep praising them, but can they send any of their children to do what they are asking you to do for them?” Ayodele asked.
‘Don’t Fight or Die for Politicians’
Ayodele further warned supporters against fighting or risking their lives for politicians over relatively small financial rewards.
He said politicians would not necessarily come to the aid of supporters who suffer injuries or other consequences while carrying out political assignments.
Related remarks reported by Punch also focused on the dangers of election-related violence, with Ayodele stressing that individuals would ultimately bear the consequences of actions taken on behalf of politicians.
Warning Comes Ahead of 2027 Elections
The comments come as political activities gradually intensify ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections, with politicians and supporters already becoming more active across different parts of the country.
Ayodele has previously made several political and national commentaries, including predictions and warnings about the 2027 election and party politics.
The latest video generated mixed reactions online, with some Nigerians agreeing with his warning about political exploitation, while others questioned the cleric’s position.
