2027: CAN Warns Against Dragging Jesus Into Politics

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has cautioned politicians and their supporters against invoking the name of Jesus Christ in partisan political battles ahead of the 2027 general elections.

CAN President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, issued the warning in a statement on Wednesday.The intervention followed controversial comments by social media personality Precious Oruche, popularly known as Mama Pee.

In a viral video, she invoked Jesus Christ while discussing the presidential ambition of the Nigeria Democratic Congress candidate, Peter Obi, claiming that Obi’s popularity was such that he would likely defeat Jesus in an election in Nigeria.

The remark was made in response to a commentator who argued that Obi could not defeat President Bola Tinubu in a free and fair contest. Oruche later denied blasphemy, saying the video had been edited and taken out of context.

Reacting, Okoh urged Christians to exercise restraint when using the name of Jesus in political debates.

“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.

The CAN president stressed that Jesus Christ is “not a political candidate, a campaign slogan or a weapon to advance one politician against another.”

He described the name of Jesus as sacred and warned against dragging it into partisan contests in ways that elevate politicians to a position reserved for God.

Okoh noted that Nigerians remain free to support or criticise any political figure, including Peter Obi, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and President Bola Tinubu. However, he emphasised that political loyalty must never 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,” he stated.

He urged the public to focus political arguments on competence, character, policies, performance and the future of the country.“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,” Okoh said.

The cleric further warned that no politician should be regarded as the Messiah and that no electoral victory is worth compromising the honour due to Christ’s name.

As the country approaches the 2027 elections, Okoh called on politicians, their supporters and all Nigerians to conduct political conversations with responsibility, restraint and respect for what is held sacred.

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