••• Says move against the ethics of association will be bad omen for the christian community
The Kwara South Youth Congress (KSYC) has issued a strong warning to the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Kwara State over alleged plans by some elements within the association to drag the respected Christian body into partisan politics ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a statement signed by its Coordinator, Dr Oluwatobi Afolayan and made available, the group said it has uncovered a plot by some elements within CAN, including its Youth Wing (YOWICAN), Women Wing (WOWICAN) and some affiliated bodies, to openly endorse the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial candidate for Kwara South, Lekan Adewoye.
The group described the planned action as unethical, unconstitutional and dangerous for the unity of the Church in Kwara State.
According to the statement “We have it on good authority that some partisan elements who have infiltrated the CAN structure in Kwara South are planning to openly endorse the APC senatorial candidate in the coming days under the guise of CAN Youth Wing and Women Wing.”
“We want to state clearly that this action, if it happens, is totally against the ethics, constitution especially article 1 and 2 and founding principles of the Christian Association of Nigeria. CAN is a spiritual body, not a political party. It is a body for all Christians irrespective of party affiliation – APC, PDP, LP, SDP and others.
The group call the attention of the leadership of the association in Kwara and warn that dragging CAN into partisan endorsement will be a bad omen for the group and will destroy the respect and trust people have for the body over the years.
The Kwara South Youth Congress called the attention of the State CAN Chairman and the State Executive Council to this dangerous move, urging them to call the perpetrators to order before it is too late.
The group noted that Kwara South is a politically sensitive district with Christians belonging to different political parties, and any attempt to give the impression that CAN has adopted APC as its candidate will create division, suspicion and crisis within the Church.
The group further revealed that YOWICAN is using its platform for APC candidates because the President of the Youth Wing, Evangelist Stephen Awoyale, is himself an APC candidate for Isin House of Assembly election in the 2027 general elections. The Congress stated that this is a clear conflict of interest and an abuse of office, and that endorsing any APC candidate under such circumstance is against the Articles of the Association which declares CAN as non-partisan, apolitical and impartial.
“CAN should be a father to all, not a campaign office for one candidate. How can you claim to represent all Christians when you openly endorse one candidate in an election where many Christians are also contesting under from other parties. Is the APC candidate the only Christian in the race? This is injustice,” the statement queried.
The Youth Congress further warned that if CAN leadership fails to act and the purported endorsement is allowed to happen, youths across Kwara South will have no choice but to openly reject the leadership and mobilize Christians to dissociate themselves from such partisan declaration.
“We are youths, we have christian among us, but we are also politically conscious. We will not allow any group of politicians wearing cassock to mortgage our future for a pot of porridge. Kwara South youths are watching.
“We therefore call on the State CAN Chairman, the Youth Wing Chairman and the Women Wing leader to immediately disown and stop any plan to endorse any senatorial candidate. Let CAN remain neutral. Let every Christian vote according to his conscience.
The KSYC reiterated its commitment to peace, religious harmony and issue-based campaign, urging all religious bodies in Kwara to maintain neutrality and allow a level playing ground for all candidates.