2027 Elections: Church leaders mobilise voters, reject money politics, demand responsible participation

By Olayinka Latona

Ahead of the 2027 general elections, Christian leaders across Nigeria have intensified calls for massive voter participation, rejection of money politics and greater involvement of citizens in choosing leaders, while insisting that the Church must remain non-partisan but actively engaged in promoting good governance.

From Pentecostal fellowships to the Catholic Church and other Christian denominations, the message has been consistent: Nigerians must register, obtain their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), vote according to their conscience and resist attempts to compromise the electoral process.

The renewed push comes as major Christian bodies unveil structured programmes aimed at political education, voter mobilisation and civic awareness among their members.

PFN Mobilises Pentecostals for Voter Registration

The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), the umbrella organisation of Pentecostal churches in the country, has declared that it is encouraging its members to actively participate in the electoral process ahead of 2027.

The National Publicity Secretary of PFN, Dr Sylvanus Ukafia, said the fellowship was committed to mobilising Pentecostals to register and vote for candidates capable of improving the lives of Nigerians and addressing insecurity.

According to him, the PFN, under the leadership of its National President, His Eminence Bishop Wale Oke, has also strengthened political awareness through the establishment of directorates of politics and governance across member churches.

Ukafia said the initiative was designed to promote informed participation rather than partisan alignment.

Catholic Church: Non-Partisan but Committed to Good Governance

The Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos reaffirmed that the Church would continue to encourage citizens to participate fully in elections without inducement, coercion or partisan involvement.

The Director of Social Communications of the Archdiocese, Very Rev. Fr. Anthony Godonu, said the position aligns with the stance of the Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, Most Rev. Dr. Alfred Adewale Martins, and the wider Catholic Church.

“The Church has never been in support of money politics. We have always stated unequivocally that it is the responsibility of government to create a conducive environment for free, fair and credible elections,” he said.

Fr. Godonu explained that the Church’s non-partisan posture does not prevent it from speaking against injustice, corruption, insecurity and poor governance.

He said the responsibility of the Church to “speak truth to power” remains unchanged, noting that Catholic Bishops have consistently used their platforms to address national issues.

JDPC Leads Catholic Civic Education

The Catholic Church, through the Justice, Development and Peace Commission (JDPC), its social action arm established by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), has continued to promote civic awareness and good governance.

Fr. Godonu said the JDPC is involved in election observation, advocacy for transparency, peace-building, human rights protection, and campaigns against social injustices.

He added that the Directorate of Social Communications and the Catholic Herald Newspaper also play roles in educating citizens on their civic responsibilities.

“Every election year, the Church has the mandate to bring to the awareness of her members the need to carry out their civic duty of participating in the electoral process,” he said.

Addressing voter apathy, Fr. Godonu acknowledged that the belief that “voting does not matter” was influenced by past electoral experiences but insisted that abandoning the process was not an option.

He said the Church was using social media platforms and youth organisations, including the Catholic Youth Organisation of Nigeria (CYON) and Catholic Young Adults Association (CYAA), to encourage young Nigerians to participate.

RCCG Establishes Politics and Governance Directorate

The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) has also established a Directorate of Politics and Governance aimed at promoting political education and responsible participation among members.

The Assistant General Overseer of RCCG for Continent 3 (South West, Nigeria and Middle East), Pastor Johnson Funso Odesola, said the initiative was developed from the PFN’s broader effort to encourage value-based political engagement.

He stressed that the directorate was not created to support any political party or candidate but to educate members on their civic responsibilities.

“As Christians, we cannot afford to act ignorantly. The department is to serve as a form of sensitisation for those interested in politics and to mobilise our people to register, collect PVCs and play their roles,” Odesola said.

He added that RCCG had no preferred political party.

“As far as the Redeemed Christian Church of God is concerned, we don’t have any favourite party,” he said.

Church Must Remain Nation’s Conscience — Archbishop Akinola

The Pastor General of Rhema Christian Church & Towers, Ota, Archbishop Taiwo Akinola, said the Church must continue to serve as the moral conscience of the nation by speaking against injustice and promoting accountability.

Akinola argued that Nigeria requires not only political change but moral and spiritual renewal.

“We must not only be praying fervently but also speak courageously and act responsibly as the watchmen of old,” he said.

He maintained that the Church’s role was not to endorse political parties but to uphold principles of justice, righteousness, truth and accountability.

“The Church must clearly distinguish between being political and being partisan. Our responsibility is to speak against corruption, vote-buying, electoral violence, abuse of office and every form of injustice wherever they occur,” he said.

The cleric described voting as part of Christian stewardship, urging churches to mentor young people and encourage responsible civic engagement.

He recommended practical measures, including voter education seminars, demonstrations on electoral procedures, establishment of voter education committees and use of digital platforms to provide accurate information.

Your Vote Is Your Power — Archbishop Osa-Oni

The Presiding Bishop of Vineyard Christian Ministries, Archbishop John Osa-Oni, urged Nigerians to take ownership of the electoral process by obtaining their voter cards and participating actively in elections.

“You cannot change what you do not get involved with. It is your involvement that brings change,” he said.

Osa-Oni encouraged Nigerians to join political parties of their choice and reject the perception that politics is inherently dirty.

“Join any political party of your choice — APC, ADC, PDP, Labour. The Church must sensitise and enlighten her members to get involved,” he said.

He warned youths against allowing themselves to be used for political violence, urging them to use their votes to choose leaders who represent their interests.

“Your vote is your power; use it to choose leaders that truly represent you,” he said.

A Unified Message Ahead of 2027

Across denominational lines, Christian leaders are presenting a common message ahead of the 2027 elections: Nigerians must register, collect their PVCs, reject financial inducements, avoid electoral violence and participate responsibly.

While insisting on political neutrality, the Church is positioning itself as a platform for voter education, moral guidance and advocacy for credible elections, with leaders arguing that responsible civic participation remains critical to Nigeria’s future.

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