Methodist Bishop Stephen Adegbite has urged Cardinal John Onaiyekan to support his preferred presidential candidate without disparaging other contenders.
Mr Adegbite, who is the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC), made the remarks during an interview on TVC on Friday.
His comments followed remarks by Cardinal Onaiyekan, the former Archbishop of Abuja, after a meeting between the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) and President Bola Tinubu at the State House.
While reacting to the cardinal’s position, Bishop Adegbite said Nigerians had the right to support whichever political candidate they preferred, but argued that such support should not come at the expense of others.
“You can have your preferred presidential candidate, but that does not mean you should run down the other candidates,” Mr Adegbite said.
He stressed the need for political and religious leaders to promote responsible discourse, particularly as Nigeria approaches another election cycle.
The bishop’s comments come amid growing political debate over the 2027 presidential election, with political parties and prominent figures already positioning themselves ahead of the contest.
Cardinal Onaiyekan has remained an influential voice on national affairs, particularly on issues concerning governance, democracy and the welfare of Nigerians.
With political tensions expected to intensify ahead of 2027, calls for restraint and issue-based debate are increasingly becoming part of the national conversation.
