Christian leaders in Kaduna State have vowed to mobilise voters across the 19 northern states to secure the re-election of President Bola Tinubu and Governor Uba Sani in the 2027 general election.
The leaders, under the Tinubu-Uba Sani Support Organisation, also announced plans to establish a national platform to unite Christians across Northern Nigeria and strengthen their political participation.
The resolutions were contained in a communique issued after a meeting of Christian stakeholders in Ikara Local Government Area of Kaduna State on Saturday.
The meeting was attended by the leadership of the Kaduna State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria, including chairmen of CAN from nine local government areas in Northern Kaduna, including Giwa.
Others were representatives of the Southern Kaduna Leadership Elders’ Council, chairmen of 63 Community Development Associations, the Deputy Speaker of the Kaduna State House of Assembly, the governor’s political counsellor and the outgoing President of Hausa Christians, Professor Dauda Ishaya.
The communique was signed and issued newsmen in Kaduna on Tuesday by the convener of the meeting and Executive Chairman of Kachia LGA, Hon. Dr Manzo Daniel Maigari, and the Director-General of TUSO, Matthew Kaku.
Explaining their decision to back Tinubu and Sani, the stakeholders cited what they described as the leaders’ performance, the nomination of a Christian deputy governorship candidate by the governor and the establishment of federal institutions in Southern Kaduna.
They specifically mentioned the Federal University of Applied Sciences, Kachia, and the Federal Medical Centre, Kafanchan, as projects that influenced their decision.
“Given the performance profiles of both President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Uba Sani, and the nomination of a Christian deputy governorship candidate by the governor, stakeholders resolved to support the re-election of the President and the governor,” the communique stated.
The leaders said their support was aimed at enabling the two administrations to consolidate their programmes and sustain their achievements.
They also alleged that Christians were relegated under the immediate past administration of former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai.
On plans to expand their political activities, the stakeholders said they had agreed to establish a national organisation covering the 19 northern states to promote the interests of Christians and encourage their participation in politics.
“The meeting agreed to go beyond Kaduna State and form a national body for the entire 19 Northern States of Nigeria to identify with the objectives of standing up for Christians in the Northern States of Nigeria,” they said.
The communique added that the proposed platform would provide a united front for Christians to pursue their common interests and promote inclusive political outcomes.
The group also pledged to mobilise Christians, particularly in the North-West, to deliver electoral support for Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress governorship candidate in Kaduna State in 2027.
The stakeholders, however, urged Christian political leaders to put aside personal ambitions and work together to achieve their collective objectives.
“The Christian political elite should focus on working in harmony and not allow personal interests to overshadow the bigger picture of defending the interests of Christians in Kaduna State,” they stated.
They also called for an end to disagreements capable of undermining the organisation’s objectives, stressing the need for unity between Christian communities in Southern and Northern Kaduna.
According to the communique, Southern Kaduna Christians have resolved to carry their Northern Kaduna counterparts along in the pursuit of their shared political interests.
The leaders, however, said their endorsement of Tinubu and Sani came with expectations of fairness, accountability and inclusive governance.
“In solidly giving our support to the President and governor, we, the voters, expect our leaders to reciprocate with inclusive governance and fairness in distributing the dividends of democracy,” they said.
The stakeholders added that they would hold the two leaders accountable for fulfilling the aspirations of Christian communities in Kaduna State and across Northern Nigeria.