Charismatic bishops’ president defends endorsement of Tinubu for 2027

The President-General of the Charismatic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria, Archbishop Leonard Bature Kawas, has defended his decision to support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid.

He also stated that his previous support for Peter Obi was not financially motivated, even though he is now being called a “fake bishop” for backing President Tinubu.

Kawas said he supported Obi during the early stages of his presidential ambition, travelled with him across the country and mobilised other clergymen for his campaign without receiving any financial reward from the former Anambra State governor.

He spoke in an interview with ARISE News on Sunday, days after the CBCN announced its support for Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid at its synod in Abuja.

The Archbishop said his decision to support Tinubu had triggered criticism from some Obi supporters, who questioned his credentials as a bishop and accused him of switching allegiance for money or access.

Defending his record, Kawas said, “I supported Peter Obi at the initial stage of his presidential ambition and went with him everywhere in Nigeria, and he never gave me $1 or ₦1.”

He added, “Neither did he ever ask me one day, ‘How did I come to the campaign?’”

According to Kawas, he personally paid the transport fares of six clergymen who joined him in supporting Obi at campaign events, adding that Obi never asked him about his transportation or accommodation.

“He would just see me at the campaign. We would pray for him. I would pay the transport fares of six clergymen. We would come there and support him. He never asked me, ‘How did I come? Which hotel did I sleep in?’ Yet I did it, and nobody called me fake,” he said.

The CBCN had on September 9, 2026, announced its endorsement of Tinubu for a second term during its synod in Abuja.

Kawas said the decision was based, among other things, on what he described as Tinubu’s appointment of Christians to key positions, support for Christian governors and efforts to balance religious interests despite the President’s Muslim-Muslim ticket in the 2023 election.

The endorsement, however, attracted criticism, particularly from supporters of Obi, with some describing Kawas and the CBCN as “fake bishops”.

But Kawas rejected the description, saying his involvement in Nigerian politics and support for presidential candidates predated his endorsement of Tinubu.

“First and foremost, for those who say we are fake bishops, I didn’t just become a bishop today. I’ve been a bishop for 25 years. I’ve been an archbishop for 14 years,” he said.

He said he had previously supported political figures including Atiku Abubakar, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, former Taraba State Governor Jolly Nyame and former President Goodluck Jonathan.

Kawas recalled that he campaigned for Jonathan and served on his presidential campaign council, saying he was “the only bishop in Goodluck Jonathan’s presidential campaign council”.

He also recalled his support for Obi, stressing that he was not called fake at the time.

“Is it now because I have prayed and God has led me that it is Tinubu, that I have suddenly become fake?” he asked.