The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has disowned Archbishop Chivir Chianson who recently declared support for the re-election of President Bola Tinubu in 2027 election.
CAN, in a statement on Wednesday, said that Chianson is not the General Secretary of the association, therefore has no mandate to speak on its behalf.
The statement was signed by CAN President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh.
The Association said the clarification became necessary following attempts by Chianson and the group he represents to present himself as CAN General Secretary.
Okoh also said Chianson has been associating the Christian body with a purported church mobilisation in support of a political candidate ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“For the avoidance of doubt, Archbishop Chianson is not the general secretary of CAN and has no authority or mandate to speak or act on its behalf.
“Furthermore, the group he represents has no official affiliation, working relationship or institutional connection with CAN,” Okoh said.
CAN affirmed that it had not authorised, endorsed or mandated the individual or his group to organise, promote or undertake any political mobilisation in its name.
“Any political position, endorsement or activity attributed to them must not be mistaken for the position or activities of the Association,” he added.
Okoh said as the umbrella body representing Christians across Nigeria, CAN has a responsibility to defend the interests of the Christian community and contribute to national development.
He said the association would not allow individuals or groups with no official relationship with it to appropriate its identity or exploit its name to advance political or personal interests.
Reaffirming the association’s political neutrality ahead of the 2027 general elections, Okoh said CAN would continue to engage national issues objectively and hold political leaders accountable, irrespective of party affiliation.
“CAN will continue to engage national issues objectively and hold political leaders accountable, irrespective of party affiliation, without endorsing or mobilising support for any political party or candidate,” he said.
He urged members of the public, particularly Christians, as well as media organisations, to disregard any claim of official representation of CAN by the individual or his group.
Okoh also urged media organisations to exercise due diligence in verifying the credentials and institutional affiliations of individuals presented as representatives of the association.
He added that CAN would take all appropriate steps to protect its name, identity and institutional integrity against unauthorised representation and misrepresentation.
Archbishop Chivir Chianson, who is the Secretary General of the Charismatic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), recently claimed God told him and members of his group that President Tinubu will be reelected in the 2027 elections.
Chianson made the claim while responding to questions during an interview, saying: “What we said about President Tinubu was a prophetic message. God told us President Tinubu will win. He’s not only going to win, he will perform better.
He, however, said his group will continue to tell the President the truth about events in the country despite their support for him.
“Yes, we speak truth to power. But that does not mean that when we want to talk to the President, we should behave like village headmasters toward the President or the nation. Our Constitution is the Bible that guides what we do and say,” he said.
The Archbishop and members of his group have also been organizing prayers for success of the Tinubu administration.