Bishops Endorse Tinubu For Second Term

President Bola Tinubu has received the backing of the Charismatic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) for a second term.

POLITICS NIGERIA reports that the Christian group has declared that it will stand with him in the 2027 presidential election and beyond.

The endorsement was announced by the President-General of the conference, Archbishop Leonard Bature Kawas, during the CBCN’s 2026 synod on Wednesday.

Kawas said the decision reflected the group’s assessment of Tinubu’s administration and what he described as the President’s actions in support of Christians and Christian interests since assuming office.

“We stand with the president today, and as long as he’s willing to be our president and even come in 2027, we will still be standing with him,” Kawas said.

“On this, this house has endorsed him for the 2027 presidency.”

The cleric said the conference was particularly impressed by Tinubu’s appointments and his alleged support for the emergence of Christian governors across the country.

Addressing concerns that the President’s 2023 Muslim-Muslim ticket could have translated into appointments favouring one religious group, Kawas argued that Tinubu had not governed in that manner.

“He did not only appoint at the national level; he also supported the emergence of Christian governors to be the majority in Nigeria. He has stood with Christanity alongside his wife,” he said.

Kawas also praised the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), saying the party had appointed a person he described as a born-again Christian and preacher of the gospel as its national leader.

“Also, for the first time, the ruling party appointed a born-again Christian and preacher of the gospel to be the national leader of the party,” he said.

The CBCN President-General said the group’s support for Tinubu would not be limited to political endorsement, adding that the bishops intended to continue praying for the President and advocating policies they believe would benefit Nigerians.

“We are here today to reassure him of our solid support; we are standing with him in prayers and advocacy for the good programmes he has brought forth for the liberation of Nigeria,” Kawas said.

He also disclosed that Tinubu had responded to an appeal previously made by the bishops concerning Nigeria’s security challenges and the need for engagement with United States President Donald Trump.

The group’s position follows a background of recent disagreements between the Tinubu administration and some Christian leaders over the state of the Nigerian economy and insecurity.

In August, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu came to the defence of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria after its members met with Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

Kalu argued that the Catholic bishops should be allowed to tell the President what they believe is happening to ordinary Nigerians, even when their assessment differs from that of the government.

“The Catholic bishops are conscious of the state of the nation, and when they offer advice, it is neither for nor against any particular administration. Their concern is always the welfare of the country,” Kalu said.

The former Abia State governor made the comment after Cardinal John Onaiyekan spoke about the bishops’ discussion with Tinubu, particularly their concerns over economic hardship and insecurity.

Onaiyekan said the delegation did not attend the meeting simply to praise the government, insisting that it had a responsibility to communicate the difficulties being experienced by Nigerians.

“When the nation is bleeding, you cannot expect a polite meeting with the Head of State. We told him the economy is not helping our poor people; he told us the economy is doing fine. Frankly speaking, he told us quite clearly that he did not agree with us,” Onaiyekan said.

According to the cardinal, the bishops were not expecting Tinubu to immediately accept their position but considered it necessary to present their concerns directly to him.

“We didn’t expect him to agree with us. We have done our duty, we have delivered our message, and we have a feeling that somehow, along the line, somebody will show him a few of the things we said,” he said.

Onaiyekan also rejected the idea that the Catholic bishops were acting as politicians, explaining that their interventions were based on their responsibility to Nigerians.

“We are not politicians running for office. We are religious leaders who feel we have a duty not just to preach our doctrines but also to address the lives of our people,” he said.

Tinubu, for his part, defended the direction of his administration during the meeting, maintaining that his economic reforms had helped move Nigeria away from the threat of financial collapse.

“I can tell you categorically with sincerity that the country has been placed on a sound footing. The economy has recovered. The alarm for bankruptcy and dark tunnel of uncertainty that we had when I came in has been changed,” the President said.

“The spirit of the people is lifting, and the economic turmoil that we feared is cleared. The economy has been delivered from bankruptcy.”

The President also assured the Catholic bishops that his government was taking steps to confront terrorism, banditry and kidnapping, while maintaining that the Independent National Electoral Commission remained neutral ahead of the 2027 elections.