President Bola Tinubu has called on Christian leaders to actively promote peace and responsible civic engagement as Nigeria heads toward the 2027 general election, cautioning against any misuse of religious platforms to stir up violence or widen national divisions.
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The President made these remarks on Wednesday in Abuja at the 2026 International Synod of Charismatic Archbishops, Bishops and Apostles, held at the National Christian Centre. His address was delivered on his behalf by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume.
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Tinubu called on the Church to take on a stronger role in fostering peace and national security, particularly by working to bridge gaps between different denominations and faiths. He reminded attendees that while political contests come and go, Nigeria itself would endure long after any election cycle.
“Nigeria does not lose”
“As charismatic bishops and fathers of faith, you have a decisive role to play in helping to ensure that Nigeria does not lose,” Tinubu said, encouraging leaders to foster peaceful, consensus-driven participation in the electoral process.
He urged them to speak out against practices that undermine democracy — including vote buying, hate speech, and using ethnicity or religion as political weapons. He also called for campaigns centered on real issues, urging religious leaders to hold politicians accountable and remind them that personal ambition should never come before national peace.
Tinubu closed this part of his message with a direct appeal: that the pulpit remain “the sanctuary of conscience” rather than becoming a tool for incitement, adding that elections should never be treated as a battle for personal gain.
Acknowledging economic hardship
The President also recognized the sacrifices Nigerians have made throughout the country’s ongoing economic reforms, reassuring citizens that the government remains committed to raising household incomes, easing hardship, and ensuring the benefits of reform reach more people across the nation. He praised citizens for their patience and resilience, promising that their endurance “will never be in vain.”
Guarding against radicalization and division
Minister of Information and National Orientation Mohammed Idris also addressed the gathering, urging religious leaders to use their influence to keep young people away from radicalization and crime, while backing community-based early-warning systems and encouraging open dialogue.
Idris emphasized that preserving unity in a country as diverse as Nigeria isn’t something government can achieve alone. “Keeping this country united requires more than government action. It requires responsible leadership across society, including religious leadership,” he said, warning that no election should be allowed to pit Christians against Muslims, North against South, or one ethnic group against another. “Nigeria belongs to all of us,” he added.
Church leader pledges support for Tinubu
Meanwhile, Archbishop Prof. Leonard Bature Kawas, President-General of the Christian body hosting the synod, used the occasion to publicly back Tinubu’s bid for re-election in 2027. He said the Church had reviewed the administration’s track record and remained committed to supporting the President through prayer, advocacy, and public engagement, pointing to what he called the government’s contributions to national development and inclusivity.
“We support him now. We support him today, we support him tomorrow, and we support him for as long as he’s willing to be our president,” Kawas said.
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