The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) has kicked against the adoption of Muslim-Muslim ticket for elective offices ahead of the 2027 general elections, insisting that the political leadership of the country should reflect the nation’s religious and ethnic diversities.
It was reported that the Christian body made this known in a communiqué issued after its National Executive Council meeting and signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Dr Sylvanus Ukafia.
This is coming after the All Progressives Congress (APC) adopted President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima, both Muslims, for the 2027 presidential election.
Reiterating its commitment to the unity and stability of Nigeria, PFN said it believed that inclusion was necessary to engender trust and a sense of belonging among the citizens.
“Nigeria’s diversity should be reflected in leadership”
The fellowship said, “The National Executive Council, NEC, of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) at its duly constituted meeting has taken into consideration recent events affecting the country and wishes to announce the following resolutions to the Nigerian public.
The PFN reaffirms its unshakeable commitment to the unity, peace and progress of Nigeria. We continue to believe that our country can only succeed where justice, equity, rule of law and respect for the Constitution prevails.
“The PFN does not support the adoption of a Muslim-Muslim ticket to vie for elective public office. Nigeria is a multi-religious and multi-ethnic country and its leadership should reflect its diversity. Inclusive governance promotes national unity, mutual trust and belonging to all citizen.”
The body argued that political arrangements should recognize the plural nature of Nigeria and avoid creating the perception that any religious group was being excluded.
PFN Speaks Out Against Bans on Preaching
The fellowship also objected to any proposed legislation or policy that might curtail Christian preaching.
It said it “strongly opposes any law or policy that seeks to ban or unduly restrict Christian preaching.”
Such legislation, the PFN said, would be “inconsistent with the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which guarantees every citizen the freedom of thought, conscience, religion, expression and peaceful assembly.”
While the fellowship acknowledged the power of government to make legal provisions for the sake of public order, it warned against using such regulations to curtail religious liberty.
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It said, “While the PFN supports a legal framework necessary to preserve the peace, such regulation should never be used as a tool to suppress legitimate religious expression and infringe on fundamental human rights.
“We call on all arms and tiers of government to uphold the Constitution, protect the rights of every Nigerian regardless of faith and ensure that no law discriminates against any religious community.”
The PFN also urged Christians across the country to be peaceful and law abiding in the exercise of their constitutional rights.
It urged believers to remain “peaceful, prayerful, law-abiding and steadfast. “We must continue to show the love of Christ while exercising our constitutional rights responsibly without violence or provocation.
The fellowship also called for ongoing dialogue between the government, religious organisations and civil society groups on issues that may threaten national unity.
“We call for meaningful dialogue between government, religious leaders and civil society in order to address issues that could threaten our national cohesion. Nigeria’s diversity should be seen as a plus to be cultivated and not a point of division.
“The PFN remains dedicated to praying for our nation and to working with all stakeholders to forge a Nigeria that is peaceful, just and prosperous where every citizen is afforded equal protection under the law,” the statement said.