Tinubu warns bishops ahead of the 2027 elections as George Akume urges Christian leaders to reject political incitement, hate speech, vote-buying and religious division.
Tinubu warns bishops ahead of the 2027 elections, urging Christian leaders to use their influence to promote peace, responsible participation and national unity rather than political incitement.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has warned Christian leaders against turning their pulpits into platforms for political incitement as Nigeria moves closer to the 2027 general elections.
The President issued the warning on Wednesday, September 9, through the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, who represented him at the 12th Synod of the Charismatic Bishops Conference of Nigeria at the National Ecumenical Centre in Abuja.
The message placed religious leaders at the centre of the growing political conversation ahead of the next general elections, with the Presidency urging them to use their considerable influence to promote peace rather than deepen political, ethnic or religious divisions.
Tinubu’s message to bishops
Addressing the gathering on behalf of Tinubu, Akume said bishops and other Christian leaders had an important role to play in ensuring that Nigeria remained peaceful throughout the electoral period.
He urged the Church to encourage peaceful and responsible participation while speaking against practices capable of undermining democracy.
Among the issues he highlighted were vote-buying, hate speech and the use of ethnicity or religion as political weapons.
Akume also called on religious leaders to demand issue-based campaigns from politicians and caution political actors against placing personal ambitions above the peace and interests of the country.
His central warning was directed at the use of the pulpit for political mobilisation that could inflame tensions.
He urged the bishops to “refrain from turning the pulpit into an instrument of incitement instead of the sanctuary of conscience,” stressing that an election should not become a fight for national survival.
The message was particularly significant because religious institutions have a wide reach across Nigerian communities, giving clerics the ability to influence public attitudes during periods of political tension.
2027 elections and the role of the ChurchWith political activities already gathering momentum, the Presidency wants religious leaders to play a stronger role in keeping communities calm.
Akume argued that elections would come and go, but Nigeria would remain. He therefore encouraged bishops to focus on protecting national unity instead of allowing political competition to turn places of worship into partisan battlegrounds.
He also described peacebuilding as part of national security, arguing that security cannot depend solely on the military, police and intelligence agencies.
According to him, trust, social cohesion, early warning and responsible communication are equally important in preventing conflicts.
The Federal Government also wants churches to work more closely with communities and public institutions on youth empowerment, civic responsibility, education, humanitarian intervention and peacebuilding.
Government acknowledges economic pressure
Tinubu’s message also touched on the economic difficulties Nigerians continue to face.
Akume acknowledged that the government’s economic reforms had placed pressure on citizens and said the administration was focused on ensuring that improvements in the broader economy eventually translate into better household incomes and living conditions.
He pointed to the need for affordable food, jobs, better infrastructure, healthcare and stronger social protection.
The government’s position is that economic reforms are intended to create long-term stability, but Akume acknowledged that Nigerians ultimately need to feel the benefits in their daily lives.
That admission comes at a politically sensitive time, as economic hardship and the cost of living are expected to remain major issues in the 2027 election campaign.
A notable endorsement for Tinubu
The synod also produced a significant political development.
The President-General of the Christian body, Archbishop Prof. Leonard Bature Kawas, declared support for Tinubu’s bid for another term in office.
Kawas said the Church had considered the administration’s record and was prepared to continue supporting the President through prayers, advocacy and public engagement.
His endorsement adds another layer to an event where the Presidency was simultaneously urging religious leaders not to use their pulpits to inflame political tensions.
The development shows the delicate line religious organisations face as the 2027 election approaches. While clerics can participate in public discussions and express political views, the Presidency is urging them to ensure that political disagreements do not become a source of hostility among Nigerians.
The warning comes amid wider election concerns
Tinubu’s latest message is not the first time the Presidency has spoken about the conduct of the 2027 elections.
In August, Tinubu, represented by Akume, also cautioned political parties and candidates against using ethnic, religious and other divisions to gain political advantage during the election season. The warning was delivered at the signing of a 2027 Peace Accord.
The President also addressed election-related concerns during his July meeting with the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria.
At that meeting, Tinubu defended the neutrality of the Independent National Electoral Commission and said he was prepared to contest the 2027 election against his political opponents.
These developments point to an increasingly political environment as parties, candidates, religious organisations and civil society groups position themselves ahead of the election.
Why the message matters
The latest warning puts responsibility on both politicians and religious leaders to manage their language and influence as the election draws closer.
For a country as religiously diverse as Nigeria, statements from churches and other faith institutions can carry considerable weight. The government’s argument is that this influence should be used to encourage peaceful participation, discourage violence and help communities resist messages built around hatred or division.
At the same time, the endorsement of Tinubu by the Charismatic Bishops Conference shows that religious bodies themselves are not outside the political debate.
The challenge ahead will be maintaining a balance between legitimate political expression and rhetoric that could deepen existing divisions.
For Tinubu’s administration, the message is straightforward: political competition is expected, but it should not come at the expense of Nigeria’s peace and stability.
As the 2027 election approaches, the Presidency is asking the Church to help keep that line from being crossed.
