The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has cautioned politicians and their supporters against invoking the name of Jesus Christ in partisan political arguments ahead of the 2027 general elections.
CAN President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, gave the warning on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, in response to comments by Precious Oruche, popularly known as Mama Pee, involving Jesus Christ, Peter Obi and the 2027 election.
Okoh said political loyalty should not diminish reverence for Christ or lead to politicians being portrayed in terms reserved for God.
He said Nigerians were free to support or criticize candidates, including Peter Obi, Atiku Abubakar and President Bola Tinubu, but urged political actors to keep religious symbolism out of partisan contests.
Instead, he called for campaigns to focus on competence, character, policies, performance and the future of Nigeria.
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Okoh also rejected the portrayal of politicians as messianic figures, stressing that neither a candidate nor a political party could assume Christ’s spiritual role.
“No politician is the Messiah,” he said, adding that no electoral victory justified compromising the honour due to Jesus Christ.
The warning follows a broader concern about the use of religion in the 2027 political contest.
On August 26, 2026, the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) urged political actors and religious leaders to resist the politicization and weaponization of religion, and called for greater emphasis on governance issues.
Okoh urged politicians, their supporters and Nigerians to conduct political discourse with responsibility and restraint as preparations for the 2027 elections gather pace.