2027: Churches mustn’t shy away from endorsing candidates – Baptist seminary

As 2027 electioneering campaigns kick in, President of the Nigerian Baptist Theological Seminary, Ogbomoso, Prof Ola Ayankeye, has said churches should not shy away from endorsing only those who prove to be God-fearing, people-oriented and committed to making their lives better.

Ayankeye stated this during a hybrid press conference held on Monday, ahead of the 2026 Ministers’ Conference scheduled to be held at the seminary premises between September 14 and 17.

While encouraging their members to vote for those who want to make life bearable for them, Ayankeye said competent ministers could also smartly guide their members not to vote for those who would not augur well for them.

He stressed that churches should encourage members to support candidates who are God-fearing, people-oriented and committed to improving citizens’ lives, irrespective of their political parties.

Ayankeye said, “Churches should endorse candidates who are God-fearing. Churches should endorse candidates who are people-lovers.

“Churches should encourage voting for people who are interested in serving the people, who want to make life bearable for people. Churches should encourage members to vote for people like that.

“We can no longer shy away from voting for the right people who will make life bearable for the populace.”

He pointed out that such endorsement should not be based on church membership or choice of political parties but on ability and willingness to serve the people.

“This is not a party matter. It’s not about a particular party.

“Even if the politicians in the church belong to parties that are pursuing goals that are not caring for people, goals that are not supporting citizens, the church will not encourage members to vote for them.

“But if we know, no matter where that person belongs, if we know candidates who are children of God, who are willing to do the will of God, by taking care of the people when they are in office, the church will say vote for this and vote for that,” Ayankeye said.

Ayankeye said churches would not tell members to reject money offered by politicians, but urge them to vote guided by the unction of the Holy Spirit and their conscience.

He said, “We are not going to tell our churches, our church members, not to take money if somebody gives them money. We are not going to tell them not to take the money. Let the politicians, let them give the money.

“But our people vote based on their conscience and based on the conviction of the Holy Spirit. They take the money to buy chicken. They take the money to buy curry and rice.

“Money will go for rice. Vote will go for the right people.”

Speaking further, he pointed out that the Nigerian Baptist Convention does not take a collective position for or against a particular candidate, because it believes that congregants can vote as led by the Holy Spirit.

“Our convention has no joint position regarding the current government. We do not have such a position as a convention on whether Tinubu is a bad person or a saint.

“This is because of our polity, which is congregational. The congregational here is that every person is a priest. We believe in the priesthood of all believers. So each person will judge according to how the Holy Spirit leads him or her to view a particular government.”

He said the 2026 conference, themed “The Gospel Minister and Ministerial Competence,” aims to enhance the performance of gospel ministers.

“The theme is very important in the current economic and security situation in Nigeria, where some gospel ministers are found to be deficient in their ministerial duty post. The theme shall be examined from various perspectives with the hope of enhancing the performance of the gospel ministers,” Ayankeye said.

In her remarks, Chairman of the Planning Committee for the 2026 Ministers’ Conference, Prof Olusola Ayo-Obiremi, said Nigerians have a role to continue to pray for the emergence of God-fearing leaders.

She further charged Nigerians to be competent in all tasks they undertake.

Ayo-Obiremi said, “We want every Nigerian to live a 360-degree life. Not only should the minister be competent, but the woman selling groundnut and everybody who is doing one thing or the other should be faithful to God, be in good relationship with those on the horizontal line, those who are their neighbours, family, friends and do their work as skilled professionals.

“We should be competent in all that God has called us to do, doing our best, not only our ministers but every single person, because we have said that we believe in the priesthood of believers. Where you are as a Nigerian, we want you to do your best and be competent.”

The conference would feature Bible teaching, African praise, hymn singing, instrumentals, messages, group discussions, intercessory prayers, witnessing and a football match.

Listed as personnel to anchor various aspects of the programme are the new President of the Nigerian Baptist Convention, Dr David Idowu; the seminary president, Ayankeye; and ministers Segun Babalola and Ikechukwu Onyegbu.