As political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections, the President of the Nigerian Baptist Theological Seminary, Ogbomoso, Prof. Ola Ayankeye, has urged churches not to shy away from endorsing candidates who are God-fearing, people-oriented and genuinely committed to improving the lives of Nigerians.
Ayankeye made the call on Monday during a hybrid press conference organised ahead of the 2026 Ministers’ Conference, scheduled to hold at the seminary from September 14 to 17.
He encouraged churches to guide their members towards voting for candidates capable of making life more bearable for citizens, noting that competent ministers could also help their congregations make informed political choices.
According to him, the church should support credible candidates regardless of their political affiliation, provided such individuals demonstrate a commitment to serving the people.
“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 said.
Ayankeye stressed that such endorsements should be based on competence, character and willingness to serve rather than church membership or political party affiliation.
He explained that where politicians who belong to the church pursue policies that are not beneficial to citizens, the church would not encourage its members to support them.
However, he said candidates who demonstrate genuine commitment to doing God’s will and improving the welfare of the people should receive the church’s support, irrespective of the political party under which they contest.
On vote-buying, Ayankeye said churches would not necessarily instruct members to reject money offered
politicians, but would encourage them to make their final voting decisions based on their conscience and spiritual convictions.
“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,” he said.
The seminary president further clarified that the Nigerian Baptist Convention does not adopt a collective position for or against individual political candidates or the current administration.
He attributed this to the convention’s congregational structure and its belief in the “priesthood of all believers,” which allows individual members to make political decisions according to their conscience and spiritual convictions.
“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,” Ayankeye said.
Speaking on the 2026 Ministers’ Conference, he said the theme, “The Gospel Minister and Ministerial Competence,” was designed to strengthen the effectiveness and performance of gospel ministers.
He noted that the theme was particularly relevant given Nigeria’s current economic and security challenges, adding that the conference would examine ministerial competence from different perspectives.
In her remarks, the Chairman of the Planning Committee for the conference, Prof. Olusola Ayo-Obiremi, urged Nigerians to continue praying for the emergence of God-fearing leaders.
She also called on Nigerians to demonstrate competence and excellence in their various professions and responsibilities.
Ayo-Obiremi said the goal was for every Nigerian to live a balanced and productive life, stressing that competence should not be limited to ministers but should be reflected in every area of society.
“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,” she said.
The four-day conference will feature Bible teaching, African praise, hymn singing, instrumental sessions, messages, group discussions, intercessory prayers, witnessing and a football match.
Those listed to anchor various aspects of the programme include the new President of the Nigerian Baptist Convention, Dr. David Idowu; the seminary president, Prof. Ola Ayankeye; and ministers Segun Babalola and Ikechukwu Onyegbu.
