NOSCEF warns CAN against partisan role, opposition backs

From Adesuwa Tsan, Abuja

The 2027 political season has continued to generate fresh alignments and concerns over neutrality, with the Northern States Christian Elders Forum (NOSCEF) warning the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) against partisan involvement, even as opposition politicians in Akwa Ibom backed the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Governor Umo Eno.

NOSCEF, in a statement signed by its Chairman, Elder Sunday Oibe, urged CAN President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, to reject the reported appointment of any serving CAN official to the All Progressives Congress (APC) 2027 Presidential Campaign Council.

The forum said CAN, as the umbrella body for Christians across the country, must remain above partisan politics to preserve its credibility and confidence among Christians of different political affiliations.

Its position followed the reported inclusion of Rt. Rev. Stephen Tunde Victor Adegbite as number 172 on the APC campaign council list, where he is designated Director of Faith-Based Mobilisation (Christian).

Adegbite is Chairman of CAN Lagos State, Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC) and Chaplain of the Villa.

NOSCEF said the combination of those responsibilities with an active role in a partisan campaign structure could create a perception of political bias.

“While every citizen has the constitutional right to participate in politics, any CAN officer who chooses to take an active role in a political party or campaign structure should first resign from their position within CAN to avoid compromising the neutrality and integrity of the organization,” the forum said.

It urged Okoh to intervene and prevent any serving CAN officer from participating in the APC campaign council, stressing that CAN’s moral authority depended on its ability to remain impartial.

“The integrity and trust placed in CAN by millions of Christians across Nigeria must be protected,” NOSCEF said.

The forum also called on religious leaders and other stakeholders to ensure that Christian leadership remained representative of the entire Christian community, irrespective of political affiliation.

While NOSCEF raised concerns over the involvement of religious officials in partisan politics, political alignments across party lines were being reported in Akwa Ibom, where stakeholders from the APC, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) and other political interests endorsed Tinubu, Akpabio and Eno.

The endorsement was made at a meeting in Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District on Saturday and was formally conveyed in a communique read by the member representing Ukanafun/Oruk Anam Federal Constituency, Unyime Idem.

The communique was subsequently adopted by the stakeholders through a voice vote.

According to a statement by Akpabio’s Special Adviser on Media, Jackson Udom, the stakeholders based their decision on their assessment of the performance and political contributions of Tinubu, Akpabio and Eno.

Akpabio, who is from the district, described the endorsement as evidence of political harmony in the state and expressed confidence that the support would translate into votes at the 2027 elections.

“The peace in the state has finally led to the opposition parties joining to declare that they all stand on the mandate of Mr President,” he said.

“We are very happy for this grand endorsement of Mr President, myself and our governor. It shows that there is unity in this state, particularly in Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District.”

Akpabio also appealed to politicians to put past disagreements behind them and avoid actions capable of reopening political divisions ahead of the elections.

“Whoever we have wronged in the course of our politicking, let us forgive and forget so that we can move in one direction and voice during the electioneering and voting,” he said.

Those at the meeting included PDP state chairman Aniekan Akpan, opposition National Assembly candidates, former Minister of Petroleum Resources Don Etiebet, former Deputy Inspector-General of Police Udom Ekpoudom and former senators Aloysius Etuk, Emmanuel Ibokessien and Chris Ekpenyong.

The developments come as parties, political figures and interest groups intensify mobilisation ahead of the 2027 elections, with questions over cross-party alliances, religious neutrality and the boundaries between institutional leadership and partisan politics increasingly featuring in the political discourse.