CAN disowns archbishop over 2027 campaign, says he doesn't speak for Christians
- CAN says Archbishop Chivir Chianson is not its general secretary and has no mandate to speak for it.
- The body denies any link to his group and says it will not back any candidate in 2027.
- CAN asked the media to check credentials before presenting anyone as its representative.
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has publicly cut ties with Archbishop Chivir Chianson, saying he is not its general secretary and cannot speak or act in its name.
In a statement on Wednesday, CAN president Archbishop Daniel Okoh said the clarification followed moves by Chianson and the group he leads to present themselves as official voices of the association, including in political mobilisation ahead of the 2027 general elections.
"For the avoidance of doubt, Archbishop Chivir Chianson is not the General Secretary of CAN and has no authority or mandate to speak or act on its behalf," Okoh said, according to the statement carried by Vanguard, Punch and PM News.
He added that the group Chianson represents has no working relationship or institutional connection with CAN.
Why it matters
CAN is the umbrella body for Christians in Nigeria, and its name carries weight with millions of worshippers. A claim that it is backing a candidate could sway voters in churches across the country.
The association said it had not authorised, endorsed or asked Chianson or his group to organise any political campaign in its name. Any endorsement or political position linked to them, it said, should not be taken as CAN's own.
Okoh restated that CAN will stay neutral in the run-up to 2027. The body, he said, will keep speaking on national issues and holding leaders to account whatever party they belong to, but will not endorse a party or candidate or drum up support for one.
According to Punch and PM News, the dispute follows public comments by Chianson, who is secretary-general of the Charismatic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), a body of Pentecostal church leaders. In September, the conference's president-general, Archbishop Leonard Bature Kawas, announced at its 2026 synod that it was backing President Bola Tinubu's re-election.
PM News reported that Chianson later described the support as prophetic, saying God told his group Tinubu would win in 2027 and do better in a second term. Punch reported the same remark from a national TV appearance but said it could not independently confirm it.
CAN urged Christians and the wider public to ignore anyone claiming to represent it without proof. It also asked media houses, naming TVC News in Punch's account, to confirm the credentials and affiliations of guests presented as CAN officials.
The association said it would take steps to protect its name and identity from unauthorised use.
What happens next
CAN has not said what specific action it may take. For now, its message to churches and voters is simple: check before you believe anyone who says the association has chosen a side.
