The INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church leader cautions young Nigerians against violence during elections, saying politicians and their supporters often reconcile after political contests.

Primate Elijah Ayodele, the leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, has urged Nigerians, particularly young people, not to risk their lives or engage in violence on behalf of politicians, warning that political actors often abandon their supporters after elections.

Ayodele gave the warning in a video shared on TikTok on Monday while speaking about the growing political rivalry and the possibility of violence as the country moves closer to another election season.

The cleric said Nigerians should be wary of politicians who encourage supporters to fight their opponents, stressing that political leaders who appear bitterly divided during campaigns could remain friends despite the hostility among their supporters.

“Nigerians especially, don’t die for politicians. Tinubu and Atiku, they are friends. You only fight and fight and fight and fight and kill yourself,” Ayodele said.

He advised young Nigerians not to allow themselves to be recruited into political violence in exchange for money or other temporary benefits.

According to him, supporters could be left to deal with serious consequences if they become victims of violence, while the politicians they fought for move on with their lives.

“Don’t kill yourself. Election is coming soon. Don’t let them use you because of N1m or N500,000 they will give you. If you lose, they shoot your leg or they kidnap you or they do anything, it’s your headache,” he warned.

Ayodele also urged Nigerians to avoid turning political disagreements into personal battles, pointing out that politicians who contest fiercely against one another could later reconcile.

Using the political rivalry in Osun State as an example, he said supporters should not destroy relationships or risk their lives over political figures who may eventually work together.

“You lost, your family lost. Adeleke, Oyetola, they will greet themselves. They will do padi padi thing,” he said.

The cleric further described politicians as people who could “use and dump” their supporters once their political objectives had been achieved.

“Stop fighting or die because of these politicians. Politicians, they are use and dump. They are ungrateful, they are ingrate,” he said.

Ayodele extended the warning to religious leaders, saying pastors and other clerics could also become instruments in political struggles.

“They will only use you and dump you. They will use people like us too, pastors, and they will dump us. That is not a problem,” he said.

He questioned whether politicians would expose their own children or close family members to the same risks they sometimes encourage supporters to take during political contests.

“Can they send their children to war on any of their families? And yet they will not help you,” Ayodele asked.

The cleric particularly appealed to young Nigerians who participate actively in politics to exercise caution and avoid blindly defending or praising politicians at the expense of their safety.

He argued that political supporters should remember that their lives, families and future are more important than temporary political rewards.

Ayodele's comments come amid renewed political activity across Nigeria, with political parties and their supporters already positioning themselves ahead of future elections.

His central message was that Nigerians should participate in politics peacefully, but should never allow political loyalty to push them into violence or put their lives at risk for politicians who may eventually reconcile after the election.