The Charismatic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, CBCN has endorsed President Bola Tinubu for a second term.

It was at the grand Finale of the 2026 Synod of CBCN and the International Communion of Charismatic Archbishops, Bishops and Apostles in Abuja.

The CBCN said it was supporting the President re-election because of its performance in office so far.

Secretary to the Government of the Federation George Akume and Minister for Information and National Orientation Mohammed Idris attended the conferred held at the National Christian Centre (NCC) in Abuja.

Idris in his keynote speech said Nigeria’s diversity required responsible leadership across all sectors of society, stressing that preserving national unity could not be left to government alone.

“Keeping this country united requires more than government action. It requires responsible leadership across society, including religious leadership.

“As we approach the 2027 general elections, this responsibility will become even more important. Political competition is part of democracy. Nigerians have the right to support the political party or candidate of their choice.

Religious leaders also have the right, as citizens, to hold political opinions, but we must draw a clear line between political disagreement and religious hostility” he said.

CBCN President-General, ArchBishop Leonard Bature Kawas said President Tinubu had done well and deserve to continue in office beyond 2027.

Archbishop Kawas, with the support of the leadership of CBCN in the six geopolitical zones, said the Synod is fully in support of President Tinubu’s continuation in office beyond 2027.

He said the Synod would work for his re-election.

The President-General of the body, who claimed to have over 950 consecrated, installed canonical bishops said: “And so, tell Mr. President, number one, we are standing with him.

We support him now, we support him today, we support him tomorrow, and we support him for as long as he is willing to be our President. That even come 2027, we will still be standing with him. And so it is safe to say that this house has endorsed him for the 2027 presidency.

He said the decision to endorse Tinubu for a second term was based on his achievements and his ability to unite the country.

He also praised the President for unifying the country, stressing that Tinubu was able to allay the fear of Muslim-Muslim ticket.

Archbishop Kawas said: ‘’And so, I want to say clearly that we were also one of the few bodies that rose with jitters when the President, a Muslim, presented a fellow Muslim to be his running mate in the last election. And we started praying.

And then there were cries, outcries here and there, that for the first time in the history of Nigeria, a democratically elected President would be deputized by a Muslim. What would be in it for Christians? We started praying, we started asking questions. There were jitters everywhere.”

He however said that the President proved them wrong with his appointments and projects across the country.

Reacting to the endorsement, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, challenged the Synod on the need to help in peace building.

Akume also charged them to prevail on the young people to resist extremist recruitment, political thuggery and hate speeches.

He said: “Religious leaders occupy the very important intersection in the prevention and management of these issues, because they are recognised influential social mobilisers and actors in peace-building.

“The church must therefore seek peace-building as part of National security. And that is one of the reasons you are here today.

“You are urged to utterly build bridges across denominations and faiths. Particularly, you should help our young people to resist extremist recruitment, political thuggery and hate speeches. In addition, you should help strengthened community early warning networks and support victims of violence.

“This responsibility becomes a little more urgent as Nigeria approaches the 2027 general election cycle. Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has published Jan. 16 and Feb. 6 for National and States elections.

“Elections will come and go, but Nigeria must remain. As charismatic bishops and fathers of faith, you have a decisive role to play. You can help me to ensure that Nigeria does not lose.

“I urge you therefore to encourage peaceful and conceptual participation in elections. You should raise your voices against anti-democratic practises, such as voting buying, hate speech and a weaponization of ethnicity or religion.”

He also charged them to demand for issue based campaigns, saying that ambition must never be placed above national peace and interest.

He further explained, “An election is a contest of office. It must never become a war for survival.”

The SGF also assured them that the current administration will continue to work to improve household income.

He said: “Notwithstanding the fact that World Bank reports indicate that macroeconomic stability has improved significantly, this government is focusing on recovery of household incomes from poverty through the new minimum wage and others, and will never relent until when reform fully succeeds and translates into affordable food, jobs, better infrastructure, health services, and dignity for the ordinary citizen.

Akume also acknowledged the current situation in the country, saying that “Nigeria is passing through one of the most consequential periods in our recent history.”

He however explained that ‘’the reforms of the last three years, symbolized by removing costly distortions in the fuel market, reforming the foreign exchange system, strengthening public finance, and pushing more funds to the sub-nationals, introducing a new tax framework, investing in infrastructure, and expanding human capital programs, are being implemented because the old alignment had become increasingly difficult, if not impossible, to sustain for Nigeria to become more competitive globally.”

He praised Nigerians for enduring the pains; promising that it will not be in vain.

”That is why the Renewed Hope Agenda rebuilds lives. The Renewed Hope Agenda is rooted in our determination to minimize hardship, create opportunities, simplify the fiscal regime, and provide relief for the vulnerable individuals and businesses. In the same vein, the government sets its sights on expanding programs in education, health, social protection, and community resilience.

“Our strategy and responsibility for accomplishing these, simply put, is to keep listening, to correct what needs correction, to protect the vulnerable, to strengthen accountability, and to ensure that the benefits of reform are increasingly felt across the Federation,” he added.

The SGF said the country had turned the corner in the area of security.

He said: “We have recorded encouraging, intelligence-led breakthroughs, including the rescue in August of 308 abducted citizens from Kwara and Niger States. But the work remains ongoing because terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, communal conflict, and criminal violence continue to wound families and communities. National security cannot be the responsibility of soldiers, police officers, and intelligence agencies alone.

He said the President deeply values and appreciates the prayers of the Church, its humanitarian interventions, and contributions to peace, national cohesion, and moral formation.

In his keynote address, “Religious freedom and the security of our communities” the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris said keeping the country together requires responsible leadership across society, including religious leadership.

He noted that Nigeria’s Constitution guarantees freedom of thought, conscience and religion, and the Federal Government remains committed to protecting every citizen’s right to worship and practise their faith freely.

He therefore said the current security challenges should not be wrongly presented as a religious war, rather “Terrorists and criminal groups have attacked Nigerians of different faiths and backgrounds, and their objective is to create fear and undermine our national unity.”

He pointed out that the government under President Tinubu, had strengthened intelligence, inter-agency cooperation and military operations, with significant gains recorded against terrorist and criminal networks.

“Our international partnerships have also grown stronger. Cooperation with the United States and other friendly nations covers intelligence sharing, counter-terrorism, training, defence and border security.

“The message is clear: Nigeria is not facing these threats alone. We will continue to work with our international partners while strengthening our own capacity to protect Nigerians. But security ultimately requires the cooperation and vigilance of all citizens.”

The minister also charged the church to use its influence to dispel hate speeches, misinformation, and disinformation, especially with the coming elections.

He said: “At a time when misinformation, hate speech, religious intolerance and political tension can spread within minutes, the pulpit and other platforms of religious communication should remain places where truth, peace and responsible citizenship are promoted.

“Nigeria’s Constitution guarantees every citizen the freedom of thought, conscience and religion. It protects the right of every person to practise, teach and manifest his or her faith, whether alone or in community with others. This is a fundamental right, and the Federal Government remains committed to protecting it.”