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The Northern States Christian Elders Forum (NOSCEF) has urged the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Archbishop Daniel Okoh, to reject the appointment of any serving CAN official into the All Progressives Congress (APC) 2027 Presidential Campaign Council, warning that such appointments could erode the association's neutrality and public trust.
In a statement signed by its Chairman, Elder Sunday Oibe, the forum stressed that CAN, as the umbrella body representing Christians across Nigeria, must remain independent of partisan politics to preserve its credibility and moral authority.
NOSCEF acknowledged that every Nigerian has the constitutional right to participate in politics but maintained that serving officials of CAN should not simultaneously occupy positions in political campaign structures.
The forum argued that allowing serving CAN officers to play active roles in partisan campaigns could create the impression that the Christian body has aligned itself with a political party, thereby weakening its ability to serve Christians of different political persuasions.
According to the statement, any CAN official wishing to participate in partisan politics or campaign activities should first resign from their office within the association to avoid conflicts of interest and protect the integrity of the organisation.
NOSCEF's concerns were sparked by the reported inclusion of Rt. Rev. Stephen Tunde Victor Adegbite as Director of Faith-Based Mobilisation (Christian) in the APC Presidential Campaign Council. The group noted that Adegbite currently serves as Chairman of CAN Lagos State, Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), and Chaplain of the Presidential Villa.
The forum maintained that holding these positions while serving in a political campaign council could raise questions about CAN's impartiality and damage public confidence in the association.
It therefore called on Archbishop Okoh to act swiftly by rejecting the appointment of any serving CAN official into the APC campaign council or any similar partisan political structure.
NOSCEF further urged the leadership of CAN to take all necessary measures to safeguard the association's institutional integrity, insisting that its influence depends on remaining fair, independent and non-partisan.
The forum also appealed to religious leaders and stakeholders across the country to uphold the principle that Christian leadership should remain impartial and committed to serving the entire Christian community, regardless of political affiliation.
