2027: Don’t turn your pulpits into platforms for incitement – President Tinubu cautions Bishops

Ahead of the 2027 general election, President Tinubu has warned Christian leaders against using their pulpit to incite v!olence or deepen divisions.

President Tinubu made the call on Wednesday, September 9, in Abuja at the 2026 International Synod of Charismatic Archbishops, Bishops and Apostles, held at the National Christian Centre.

Represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Senator George Akume, the President said

“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.

You should raise your voices against anti-democratic practices, such as vote buying, hate speech and the weaponisation of ethnicity or religion.

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.

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. An election is a contest for profits”

His charge comes weeks after the Presidency’s spat with the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria.