By Chinedu Echianu
The National APC Christian Leaders Forum of Nigeria (NACLFON) has called on Christians across the country to actively support the administration of President Bola Tinubu through sustained prayers and civic engagement as Nigeria prepares for the 2027 general elections.
The call was made on Saturday during a National Prayer Conference held at Eagle Square, Abuja, with the theme, “Oh God, Heal Our Land,” drawn from 2 Chronicles 7:14.
Speaking at the event, NACLFON Patron and Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), Bishop Stephen Adegbite, said the era when many Christians viewed politics as a “dirty game” and stayed away from governance had passed.
According to him, Christians must now participate in the nation’s political process while continuing to pray for the country’s leaders and stability.
“When you are not involved, how can you partake? The body of Christ must be involved,” he said, urging Christians to support President Tinubu and pray for peaceful elections, improved security and national development.
Adegbite said church leaders have a responsibility to uphold government through prayers rather than undermine it, expressing confidence that God was already answering the prayers of Nigerians.
He cited the recent release of kidnapped schoolchildren and their teachers in Oyo State as evidence that God was intervening in the country’s security challenges.
The NCPC boss also explained the choice of Eagle Square as the venue for the prayer gathering, describing it as symbolic because it is the site where presidential inaugurations are held.
He expressed confidence that President Tinubu would be re-elected in 2027 and prayed for peaceful elections and a successful inauguration.
“Prayer is number one. Number two is prayer. Number three is prayer,” Adegbite said when asked what role APC Christian leaders would play in the nation’s political future, adding that they would also perform their civic responsibilities during the election period.
Also speaking, Chairman of the Central Planning Committee for the conference, Venerable Godson Onukwugha, said the prayer summit was designed to redirect Nigerians from despair to faith by taking the nation’s challenges to God.
He urged Nigerians to pray for the country’s leaders, citing Romans 13 to emphasize that governmental authority is ordained by God.
Onukwugha said the conference was inspired by God’s promise in 2 Chronicles 7:14 that He would heal the land if His people humbled themselves, prayed, sought His face and turned from their sinful ways.
He maintained that President Tinubu’s emergence was by divine providence and appealed to Nigerians to remain patient with the administration’s reforms.
“Nothing good comes easy. It is only a matter of time. In the next two to three years, we will begin to see the dividends of democracy,” he said, adding that the current difficulties were part of a transition towards national renewal.
Chairman of NACLFON’s North Central Zone, Emmanuel Joseph, said participants travelled from across the country despite prevailing security concerns to unite in prayer for Nigeria.
According to him, Christians have a duty to pray for their leaders because leadership reflects the society from which it emerges.
He urged Nigerians to stop condemning their country and instead speak positively about the nation’s leaders while praying for wisdom and divine guidance for them.
Joseph said the Abuja conference would be replicated across states, local government areas and wards to mobilise Christians nationwide for prayers for peace and national unity.
He noted that participants attended from states including Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, Zamfara, Kaduna and Niger, describing the turnout as a demonstration of Christian unity across denominational and regional divides.
“As we approach the 2027 election, all we are asking is a peaceful election. People should come out and support good governance, support the President and continue to pray for the peace of the land,” he said.
