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From Noah Ebije, Kaduna
After a week of prayers, reflection, and deliberations on spiritual and national matters, pastors, theological scholars, and church leaders from across the 19 Northern States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), representing a community of about four million Baptist Church members, have expressed deep concern over the nonchalant attitude of Christians in the country towards participating in the 2027 electoral process.
This was part of the observations they made during the 65th Annual Ministers’ Conference of the Baptist Theological Seminary in Kaduna, under the theme: “The Authority of Scripture and the Mission of the Church in Troubled Times.”
The Chairman, Board of Governors, Baptist Theological Seminary, Kaduna, Rev. Joseph John Hayab, and the acting President of the Seminary, Rev. Manasseh Panpe, jointly signed a communiqué issued at the end of the event
The communiqué reads in part: “The Conference expressed concern over the apathy of many Christians toward the electoral process. Pastors were tasked to mobilise members to register and obtain their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) ahead of the 2027 general elections. Delegates emphasised that political participation is both a civic and moral duty that enables believers to promote righteousness in governance.
“The Conference acknowledged the efforts of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State, in improving national unity and security coordination. While noting visible progress, it urged governments at all levels to sustain reforms, strengthen local peace building initiatives, and prioritise justice and welfare for victims of violence. “Delegates noted with concern the move by the United States Senate to designate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) over alleged violations of religious freedom. While the Conference acknowledged that Christians in Nigeria face persecution, not only through killings, but also through various forms of discrimination based on faith, it appealed to foreign governments and international bodies not to place Nigeria on the CPC list, emphasising that such a designation would not resolve the underlying issues of insecurity and religious tension.
“Delegates further cautioned that labelling Nigeria as a CPC could inadvertently escalate violence, as such action may limit access to military assistance and legitimate security equipment, thereby weakening the nation’s ability to combat terrorism, banditry, and other violent crimes. The Conference therefore urged foreign partners to adopt other constructive and collaborative measures to support Nigeria in addressing its security and religious freedom challenges.
“The Conference decried the persistent hardship confronting Nigerians, noting that banditry, insurgency, and unemployment have disrupted livelihoods and weakened community bonds. It called on the government to lead with the fear of God, formulate people-centred economic policies, and prioritise human welfare above political interests.”
