The Christian Association of Nigeria has warned politicians and their supporters against portraying political candidates as “messianic figures” or dragging the name of Jesus Christ into partisan campaigns ahead of the 2027 general elections.
CAN President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, gave the warning 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 involving Peter Obi and the 2027 election.
Okoh said Christians could support or criticise any political candidate, but political loyalty should not be allowed to undermine reverence for Jesus Christ.
He stressed that no politician, regardless of popularity, should be elevated to a position reserved for 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.
The CAN president said the name of Jesus should not be turned into a campaign slogan, political weapon or instrument for promoting one candidate 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.
Okoh maintained that Nigerians were free to support Peter Obi, Atiku Abubakar, Bola Tinubu or any other candidate, as well as criticise them, but warned against allowing political allegiance to become excessive.
“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 said.
He urged political parties, candidates and their supporters to focus their campaigns on issues that directly affect Nigerians, including competence, character, policies and performance.
“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 added.
The CAN president’s warning comes as political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 elections, with politicians and their supporters already beginning to mobilise across the country.
Okoh urged Nigerians to conduct political discussions with responsibility, restraint and respect for religious convictions.
He also cautioned against language that could turn political support into a form of religious devotion, stressing that no election or political victory was worth compromising the honour attached to the name of Jesus Christ.
