The Christian Association of Nigeria has warned politicians and their supporters against using the name of Jesus Christ to advance partisan political interests ahead of the 2027 general elections.
CAN President, Archbishop Daniel 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 invoked Jesus Christ while making a political argument about Peter Obi and the 2027 elections.
Okoh said although political discussions could become intense, Christians should exercise restraint when invoking the name of Christ in political debates.
He stressed that Jesus should not be turned into a political tool, campaign slogan or means of promoting one politician over another.
“I believe this is an appropriate moment to remind all of us, especially Christians, to exercise restraint in the way we invoke the name of Jesus Christ in political debates,” he said.
According to him, Nigerians have the right to support or criticise politicians, including Peter Obi, Atiku Abubakar and Bola Tinubu, but political loyalty should not diminish the reverence due to Christ.
“We are free to support Peter Obi, Atiku Abubakar, Bola Tinubu or any other candidate. We are equally free to criticise them. But our political loyalty must never become so intense that we begin to speak of politicians in terms that diminish the reverence due to Christ,” Okoh said.
The CAN president urged political actors and their supporters to focus their campaigns on issues such as competence, character, policies, performance and the future of Nigeria.
“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 cautioned Nigerians against portraying politicians as messianic figures, stressing that no political victory was worth compromising the honour associated with the name of Jesus 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 stated.
He urged politicians, their supporters and Nigerians to conduct political discussions responsibly and respectfully as the country approaches another electoral season.
