Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu has called on Christian leaders to promote peace and national unity in the lead-up to the country’s 2027 general election, while warning against the use of churches to stoke political or religious divisions.
Speaking through a government representative at a Christian leaders’ conference in the capital, Abuja, Tinubu urged churches to speak out against vote buying, hate speech, and the exploitation of ethnicity or religion for political gain. He stressed that political competition must not come at the expense of national unity and encouraged religious leaders to promote issue-based campaigns and peaceful participation in the electoral process.
The appeal comes as Nigeria prepares for its next general election, with tensions around identity politics remaining a recurring concern in the country’s multi-ethnic and multi-religious society.
However, the head of the Christian group hosting the conference, Archbishop Leonard Bature Kawas, openly endorsed Tinubu for another term. He said the organisation would continue to support the president through prayers and public advocacy.
The remarks highlight both the government’s push for restraint from religious platforms and the open political alignments that can emerge within faith communities as elections approach.