News Investigators/ The Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) has urged Nigerians to actively participate in the country’s democratic process by exercising their franchise wisely in the forthcoming 2027 general elections.
The CAC General Secretary, Pastor Emmanuel Mapur, gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday.
He spoke on the sidelines of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) 50th Anniversary, Thanksgiving and Award Service.
Mapur said that 2027 general election presented Nigerians another opportunity to elect their desired leaders.
“Nigerians should come out and vote; it is their fundamental civic right.
‘’They must choose leaders who are credible, godly, and possess the vision to positively transform the fortunes of this nation,” he urged.
Mapur, congratulating CAN on its 50th anniversary, urged the association to maintain absolute unity and guard against internal division ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The pastor emphasised the need for CAN to remain a cohesive, indivisible umbrella body for all Christians in the country.
“The message from the CAC president to the entire body of Christ is very simple, clear, and unambiguous: unity.
“The body of Christ must not be divided for any reason.
‘’We must be united; we must be one, and we must learn to respect each other’s doctrinal stances. That is the core foundation upon which we must continue to build, ‘’ he said.
Mapur described CAN “Father of Faith Award” presented to President of CAC, Pastor Samuel Oladele, as both well-deserved and a call to greater service.
The general secretary recalled that CAC served as one of the key foundational pillars during the establishment of CAN five decades ago.
“This award is very significant when you look at the history of CAN.
‘’CAC is a pillar in the upbringing and establishment of CAN; so, for the church and our president to be honoured today is not out of place.
“It means a lot to us, and it signals that we are going to be even more committed to CAN and its activities to serve truly and faithfully,” Mapur said.
Earlier, the CAC Medaiyese Regional Superintendent, Pastor Gabriel Aboderin, described the event as an historic moment that would remain indelible in the memory of the church.
Aboderin noted that CAN’s 50th anniversary provided a crucial platform for self-assessment and strategic re-engineering for future challenges.
“The award today is a clear testament to the fact that Christ Apostolic Church has been a very proactive member of this great movement right from the beginning.
“Celebrating 50 years affords us the opportunity to prepare more vigorously.
“We still have a very large expanse of land to cover in Nigeria, and at a time when citizens are looking up to the church for leadership, CAN cannot afford to fail or rest on its oars,” Aboderin said.
He advised religious leaders on objective stance in evaluating political office seekers in the 2027 general elections.
He also urged religious leaders to assess the incumbent administration while remaining open to credible alternatives in the public interest.
Aboderin commended the current administration for doing its best in leading the nation.
He, however, said that it was the responsibility of religious leaders, especially CAN to midwife the nation’s democratic journey and electing good leaders.
“My advice to political leaders is that good governance must be placed above every other consideration,” Aboderin said.
NAN reports that the event featured the presentation of the “Father of Faith Award” to eminent Christian leaders in recognition of their foundational contributions to the body of Christ in Nigeria.
Among other recipients honoured at the event were Catholic Archbishop Emeritus of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, and the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, Most Rev. Matthew Kukah.
NAN
