ABUJA – The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has cautioned politicians and their supporters against invoking the name of Jesus Christ to advance partisan political interests ahead of the 2027 general elections.
CAN President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, said political differences and campaign activities should not lead to the misuse of the name of Christ or turn religious reverence into a tool for promoting individual politicians or political parties.
Okoh issued the warning in a statement on Wednesday while reacting to recent comments by Precious Oruche, popularly known as Mama Pee, in which she referenced Jesus Christ while making a political point involving Peter Obi and the 2027 elections.
“Jesus Christ is not a political candidate, a campaign slogan or a weapon to advance one politician against another. His name is sacred and should not be dragged into partisan contests in ways that elevate human beings, however popular or admired, to a place that belongs to God alone,” Okoh said.
The CAN president acknowledged that political discussions could become increasingly passionate as political parties and their supporters begin positioning themselves for the 2027 elections.
He, however, urged Christians and other Nigerians to exercise restraint and responsibility when discussing political figures and issues involving religion.
According to him, citizens have the constitutional right to support or criticise any political candidate, but political loyalty should not become so intense that it diminishes the reverence accorded to Jesus Christ.
Okoh noted that Nigerians were free to support candidates such as Peter Obi, Atiku Abubakar, Bola Tinubu or any other contender in the forthcoming elections.
The CAN president however, stressed that political support should be based on candidates’ qualifications, character, records and policy proposals rather than religious comparisons that could elevate politicians to a status reserved for God.
He also urged supporters of different political parties to maintain civility and avoid statements capable of turning political disagreements into religious confrontations.
Archbishop Okoh further advised politicians and their supporters to focus their campaigns on issues that directly affect the lives and future of Nigerians.
He said political debates should centre on competence, character, policies, performance, leadership capacity and concrete plans to address the country’s challenges.
“Let us argue about competence, character, policies, performance and the future of Nigeria. Let us disagree passionately if necessary, but let us leave Jesus Christ out of our partisan quarrels,” he said.
Okoh also warned against presenting politicians as messianic figures capable of providing salvation or solving every problem confronting the country.
He maintained that no individual seeking political office should be elevated to a status that compromises Christian convictions or diminishes the significance of Christ.
“No politician is the Messiah. No political party represents the salvation of the human spirit that Christ epitomises. And no electoral victory is worth compromising the honour due to His name,” he said.
As the country moves towards another major electoral season, the CAN president called on politicians, their supporters and Nigerians generally to conduct political conversations responsibly and respectfully.
He urged citizens to engage in robust political debates without dragging sacred religious beliefs into partisan disputes, stressing that political competition should not undermine national unity, religious sensitivity or respect for matters Nigerians hold sacred.