‘You Can Have Your Preferred Candidate’
The Methodist bishop’s remarks were directed at Cardinal John Onaiyekan, the Catholic Archbishop Emeritus of Abuja and a prominent voice on Nigerian political and social affairs.
The bishop argued that religious leaders and citizens alike can have preferred candidates without using their positions to undermine those who support other politicians.
The message comes as political alignments begin taking shape ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
ValidViewNetwork reports that Onaiyekan has historically spoken publicly on elections, governance, democracy and the responsibilities of political leaders.
A Debate Beyond One Candidate
Nigeria’s 2027 presidential contest is already generating intense discussion despite the election being months away.
President Bola Tinubu is expected to seek another term, while opposition figures and emerging political coalitions are positioning themselves for the contest.
The political landscape includes competing interests around the All Progressives Congress, Peoples Democratic Party and other political formations. That competition has also revived questions about the influence religious leaders should wield during elections.
Why Onaiyekan’s Voice Matters
Onaiyekan has spent decades participating in Nigeria’s national conversations on democracy, peace and governance.
He previously served as President of the Christian Association of Nigeria and has been involved in initiatives aimed at promoting peaceful elections and national dialogue.
In a 2025 interview discussing the papal conclave, Onaiyekan said African cardinals had not gathered for a political rally but to participate in the process of choosing a pope. His wider public record includes repeated calls for political dialogue and peaceful democratic participation.
The Danger of Turning Politics Into Personal Warfare
The Methodist bishop’s warning touches on a broader problem in Nigerian politics. Political disagreements frequently move beyond competing policies and records into attacks on personalities, ethnic identities and religious affiliations.
That approach can make constructive political debate almost impossible. A presidential election should ultimately be a contest over leadership, competence, policies and the future direction of the country.
Citizens should therefore be able to disagree without treating political opponents as enemies.
Religious Leaders Under the Spotlight
The intervention also raises a larger question about the place of religious leaders in Nigerian politics.Clerics have significant influence over millions of Nigerians and their political statements can shape public perceptions.
That influence comes with responsibility. Religious leaders can encourage citizens to participate in elections, demand accountability and defend democratic principles.
But when religious authority becomes closely identified with a particular political camp, it can also deepen divisions among followers.
2027 Contest Is Already Taking Shape
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The political debate surrounding the next presidential election is unlikely to disappear.
With Tinubu’s administration approaching the second half of its first term, political parties and potential presidential contenders are increasingly preparing for the next national contest.
The emergence of opposition coalitions has further complicated the political landscape. For voters, however, the fundamental choice remains theirs.
ValidViewNetwork reports that Nigerians will ultimately determine their preferred candidates through the ballot, regardless of the political preferences of influential individuals.
The Methodist bishop’s intervention therefore carries a message that extends beyond Onaiyekan. It is a reminder that political disagreement does not require personal hostility.
Nigeria’s next presidential election will be fiercely contested. But the strength of the country’s democracy will be measured not only by who wins, but by whether citizens can support different candidates without being vilified for doing so.
The ballot belongs to the voter. The choice belongs to the voter. And no religious or political leader should forget that.
