President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has urged Christian leaders across Nigeria to refrain from using their pulpits to incite violence or deepen ethnic and religious divisions ahead of the 2027 general election.
Tinubu made the call on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, in Abuja during the 2026 International Synod of Charismatic Archbishops, Bishops and Apostles held at the National Christian Centre.
The President was represented at the event by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume.
Tinubu urged Christian leaders to use their influence to promote peaceful participation in the electoral process and speak out against practices capable of undermining Nigeria’s democracy.
“As charismatic bishops and fathers of faith, you have a decisive role to play in helping to ensure that Nigeria does not lose. I urge you, therefore, to encourage peaceful and consensual participation in the election,” he said.
The President also urged religious leaders to oppose vote buying, hate speech and attempts to exploit ethnic or religious sentiments for political purposes.
“You should raise your voices against anti-democratic practices, such as vote buying, hate speech and the weaponisation of ethnicity or religion,” he said.
Tinubu called for issue-based campaigns and cautioned political actors against placing personal ambitions above the peace and national interest of the country.
“To uphold the enviable level of uninterrupted democratic governance, you should demand issue-based campaigns and caution political actors whose ambition must never be placed above national peace and interest,” he added.
The President also specifically appealed to religious leaders not to turn their pulpits into platforms for political incitement.
“This charge would, however, be incomplete if I do not admonish you to please refrain from turning the pulpit into an instrument of incitement instead of the sanctuary of conscience,” he said.
Tinubu’s appeal comes amid increasing political activities and controversies surrounding the conduct of politicians and their supporters ahead of the 2027 elections.
The remarks also come weeks after a public disagreement between the Presidency and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria over issues including the economy and national development.
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