The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) has called for balanced Christian representation in the 2027 general elections, urging fairness in political appointments while firmly opposing calls for the removal of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan.
Speaking at a press conference in Lagos on Thursday, PFN President, Wale Oke, emphasised the need for inclusive leadership that reflects Nigeria’s religious diversity.
PFN Urges Fair Christian Representation in 2027 Elections
Addressing concerns about religious balance ahead of the 2027 elections, Oke noted that Nigeria has millions of Christians across all geopolitical zones, stressing that the President should consider fairness in choosing a running mate.
According to him, while the PFN cannot dictate political decisions, it expects equity and justice in governance.
“There are millions of Christians in this nation. Under PFN alone, we have over 65 million believers. With proper consideration, the President can pick a Christian Vice President. That would be the balanced thing to do,” Oke stated.
However, he clarified that the Fellowship would ultimately judge the President based on performance rather than speculation over political calculations.
PFN Rejects Calls to Remove INEC Chairman Amupitan
The PFN strongly rejected demands for the removal of INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, following controversy surrounding his comments on national issues.
The National Deputy President of PFN, Cosmas Ilechukwu, defended Amupitan’s right to express his views.
“He is a full-fledged citizen of Nigeria and has the right to contribute to national discourse. We must respect his opinion,” Ilechukwu said.
The PFN’s stance contrasts sharply with that of the Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria (SCSN), which had called for Amupitan’s resignation and warned that Muslims would not recognise elections conducted under his leadership.
The SCSN President, Bashir Umar, made the remarks during the council’s 2026 Annual Pre-Ramadan Lecture in Abuja, alleging concerns about the INEC chairman’s integrity.
PFN Backs Electronic Transmission of Election Results
On electoral reforms, the PFN threw its weight behind real-time electronic transmission of election results, describing it as crucial to strengthening Nigeria’s democracy.
Ilechukwu stated that Nigerians deserve a credible electoral process where votes truly count.
“Nigeria has developed to a point where we must trust our electoral system. Supporting electronic transmission of results is one way to ensure transparency,” he added.
Insecurity: PFN Commends Tinubu, Seeks Stronger Action
While condemning the killing of Christians and other Nigerians by terrorists, PFN praised ongoing collaboration between Nigeria and the United States in tackling insecurity.
Oke commended President Bola Tinubu for efforts to address terrorism but urged the Federal Government to intensify its strategy.
“We see the partnership with America in getting expertise, training, and equipment. We appreciate the efforts, but we urge the government to double its actions,” he said.
The Christian body maintained that while the administration inherited security challenges, it must also take full responsibility for delivering lasting solutions.
