Anglican Church Warns Tinubu, INEC Against Rigging 2027 Elections

The Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Province of the Niger, has cautioned President Bola Tinubu, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) against manipulating the 2027 general elections.

Politics Nigeria reports that the church also expressed concern over what it described as attempts to establish a one-party system through the alleged intimidation of opposition parties and their candidates.

It urged Nigerians to take an active interest in the forthcoming elections and use their votes to hold political leaders accountable for their promises.

The Coordinating Bishop of the Province of the Niger, Bishop of Aguata and Supervising Bishop of the Diocese of Awka, Rt. Rev. Dr Samuel C. Ezeofor, gave the warning during the 2026 Anglican Prayer Rally of Anambra State (APRAS).

Ezeofor recalled that the province had raised concerns about the dangers of a one-party system during its synod in May, urging Nigerians to remain vigilant ahead of the 2027 elections.

He said, “This is the time for us to come out to show that we are human beings, that we are not robots and so everywhere in the country, we are calling upon Nigerians to take their future, and destiny in their hands with the forthcoming presidential and other elections in the country.”

Addressing the Presidency, INEC, the APC and other political stakeholders, the bishop warned that growing public dissatisfaction could have serious consequences if Nigerians’ democratic choices were disregarded.

“If they take Nigerians for granted, it may come to a point where there may be a revolution. I don’t pray for that, but by my training, I am trained to believe the best but be prepared for the worst,” he said.

He called on those responsible for conducting and overseeing the 2027 elections to ensure that the results reflected the choices of voters.

“So both the Presidency, APC, INEC and all the people who are involved in the election that is coming in 2027, let everyone of them be careful and do what Nigerians said with their ballots and would want to be done with their votes,” he added.

On the internal challenges confronting the Province of the Niger, Ezeofor acknowledged that the crisis might have discouraged some members of the Anglican Church.

He, however, urged the faithful not to lose hope, maintaining that challenges within the church’s human administration did not mean God had abandoned it.

“My message to our faithful is that as human beings, we may stumble, but God is still on his throne. This church belongs to God, yet it is human beings who run the church and it is also a human system,” he said.

He encouraged members to remain steadfast in their Christian faith, describing Jesus Christ as the author and finisher of their faith and expressing confidence that the situation would improve.

The 2026 prayer rally, themed “Dwelling in the Secret Place of the Most High God”, was attended by six bishops of the province, including the retired Archbishop of the Province of the Niger, Most Rev. Prof. Godwin Okpara.

Other attendees included Bishop Ephraim Ikeako of the Diocese of Amichi, Bishop Prosper Amah of the Diocese of Ogbaru, Bishop Ndubuisi Obi of the Diocese of Nnewi and Bishop Obiora Uzochukwu of the Diocese of Niger East.