The Christian Association of Nigeria has cautioned politicians and their supporters against invoking the name of Jesus Christ to promote partisan interests as political activities gather momentum ahead of the 2027 general elections.

CAN President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, issued the warning in a statement on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, following recent comments by Precious Oruche, popularly known as Mama Pee, in which she referenced Jesus Christ while making a political argument involving Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi and the 2027 election.

Okoh said political debates could be passionate, but Christians and political actors should exercise restraint when bringing the name of Jesus into partisan arguments.

According to him, Jesus Christ should not be presented as a political candidate, campaign slogan or instrument for promoting one politician against another.

The CAN president stressed that political loyalty should not become so intense that supporters begin to place politicians in positions that, in Christian belief, belong exclusively to Christ.

He said Nigerians were free to support or criticise political figures, including Peter Obi, Atiku Abubakar and President Bola Tinubu, but such political choices should not be mixed with the reverence Christians owe to Jesus Christ.

Okoh urged politicians and their supporters to redirect political discussions towards issues that directly affect Nigerians, including competence, character, policies, performance and the future of the country.

‘No politician is the Messiah’

CAN also warned against portraying politicians as messianic figures or treating electoral victories as if they carried the spiritual significance associated with Christ.

The association maintained that no political party or candidate should be presented as the source of salvation, while no election should become an excuse for compromising the honour attached to the name of Jesus.

Okoh appealed to Nigerians to maintain responsibility and restraint as the 2027 political season intensifies, particularly because political conversations are likely to become more heated as parties and candidates mobilise supporters.

He said disagreements over candidates and political parties were legitimate within a democracy, but such disagreements should be conducted without dragging sacred religious beliefs into partisan contests.

The warning comes as Nigeria’s political parties and potential candidates increasingly position themselves for the 2027 general elections, with debates already emerging around alliances, presidential ambitions and the direction of the country.

CAN’s intervention adds a religious dimension to the growing calls for issue-based campaigns ahead of the elections, with other Christian groups also previously urging politicians to avoid ethnic and religious sentiments during the campaign season.

For CAN, the central message is that political competition should remain focused on how candidates intend to govern and address Nigeria’s challenges rather than turning politicians into objects of religious devotion.

Okoh therefore called on politicians, supporters and other Nigerians to debate political issues passionately where necessary, but to keep the name of Jesus Christ outside partisan quarrels.

The Christian Association of Nigeria is the umbrella body representing major Christian blocs in the country and was formally established in 1977 to provide a unified platform for Nigerian Christians.