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By Lawrence Agbo
The Donald Trump administration will be closely monitoring Nigeria’s 2027 general elections, United States Congressman Riley Moore has said.
Moore, a Republican representing West Virginia, said Washington will pay “very close attention” to how the polls are conducted and the results that emerge.
The US lawmaker made this known in an interview with _NoireTV_ posted on the platform’s social media pages on Sunday.
Responding to a question on whether the US could do more to support credible elections in Nigeria, Moore said:
“What I’d say is that we’re certainly going to be watching these results and how these elections unfold and how they’re executed. And that’s something that myself and the administration are going to be paying very close attention to.”
Moore disclosed that the US House of Representatives is considering an appropriations bill with “strong and aggressive language” relating to Nigeria.
He said the bill contains provisions on the persecution of Christians and restrictions on security assistance to the Nigerian government.
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“We’re working on Chris Smith’s bill, which obviously I’m a co-sponsor of. But more importantly, what people need to pay attention to is the appropriations bill that we’re going to have on the floor today,” he said.
“That bill’s likely to become law. There’s some pretty strong and aggressive language in that bill that’s going to be binding as it relates to our relationship to Nigeria moving forward,” Moore added.
The proposed legislation would require the US Secretary of State to submit periodic reports to Congress on religious persecution and mass atrocities in Nigeria. It also seeks assessments of Nigeria’s compliance with religious freedom obligations and measures to protect vulnerable communities.
The US House Appropriations Committee in April 2026 passed provisions in its State Department funding bill imposing stricter conditions on financial assistance to Nigeria.
Under the bill, 50 per cent of funds earmarked for Nigeria will be withheld until it is certified that the government is taking “effective steps” to curb religious violence.
The bill also demands that funds support investigations and prosecutions of violence by Fulani militia groups and facilitate the safe return of displaced persons.
Moore said he would continue to engage the Trump administration on Nigeria and disclosed he was scheduled to have dinner with President Trump.
“I continue to talk to him about these issues, and it’s very important to him,” he said.
