Over the years, a lot of factors have influenced the winners of presidential elections in times past. These factors include:
1. Money politics
2. Tribalism
3. Party structures
4. Religious sentiments
5. Trust
6. Performance of the ruling party
7. Media influence
8. Need to try a new candidate/party etc.
There are 3 or 4 major contenders for the 2023 presidency. Just one is a Christian. The rest are Muslims. To what extent will religion play a role in who emerges as Nigeria's president in 2023?

Religious beliefs are fundamental.

Meaning thus, that all other considerations regarding human decision making are firmly rooted or anchored on religious beliefs and sentiments.

It is highly hypocritical to expect northern Muslims to put aside their religious concerns to vote a non Muslim while urging Christians to vote a Christian candidate.

You can't dismiss religious considerations as outdated or sentimental in any election process any where in the world.

Obama was accused of being not only a foreign born American citizen of Kenyan origin but also a Muslim and a homosexual.

In the US , religion still plays a vital role in deciding on who leads them.

Last I checked,only two Jews have become president of the US -Dwight Eisenhower (a Swedish born Jew) and Benjamin E Franklin ( a Masonic Jew). Since ,Eisenhower, no Jew has been able to get the presidency owing to growing antisemitism .

Biden is the second only Catholic to be elected President after JFK was able to break the ceiling.

Ignore religious sentiments at your own peril

SilverOrLead:
Religious beliefs are fundamental.

Meaning thus, that all other considerations regarding human decision making are firmly rooted or anchored on religious beliefs and sentiments.

It is highly hypocritical to expect northern Muslims to put aside their religious concerns to vote a non Muslim while urging Christians to vote a Christian candidate.

You can't dismiss religious considerations as outdated or sentimental in any election process any where in the world.

Obama was accused of being not only a foreign born American citizen of Kenyan origin but also a Muslim and a homosexual.

In the US , religion still plays a vital role in deciding on who leads them.

Last I checked,only two Jews have become president of the US -Dwight Eisenhower (a Swedish born Jew) and Benjamin E Franklin ( a Masonic Jew). Since ,Eisenhower, no Jew has been able to get the presidency owing to growing antisemitism .

Biden is the second only Catholic to be elected President after JFK was able to break the ceiling.

Ignore religious sentiments at your own peril

I think you made a valid point.