The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has distanced itself from a cleric who presented himself as its general secretary and tried to link the body to support for a candidate in the 2027 elections.

What CAN said

In a statement signed by its president, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, and reported on Wednesday, 4 November 2026, CAN said Archbishop Chivir Chianson does not hold any position in the association and has no authority to speak or act on its behalf. It said he had tried to identify himself as CAN's general secretary and to associate the body with what he described as a church mobilisation in support of a political candidate. Okoh warned the public and the media to disregard any claim that Chianson or his group represents CAN.

Neutrality

The statement was widely read as reaffirming CAN's position that it does not endorse any candidate in the race between President Bola Tinubu of the APC, Atiku Abubakar of the ADC and Peter Obi of the NDC.

Background

Religious leaders and groups have become increasingly involved in the 2027 campaign. A bishops' conference has reportedly endorsed Tinubu for a second term, while a video of a Catholic priest leading his congregation in a song for Obi and Kwankwaso went viral this week. Religion has long been a sensitive issue in Nigerian elections, especially after the APC's Muslim-Muslim ticket in 2023.

Why it matters

CAN is the umbrella body for most Christian denominations in Nigeria, and its position can influence many voters.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has named the venue for the official launch of Atiku Abubakar's 2027 presidential campaign in Sokoto.

The venue

According to reports, the campaign will be flagged off at the party's secretariat on Ilorin Road, Sokoto, on Wednesday, 4 November 2026. Senator Ibrahim Lamido, who coordinates the ADC presidential campaign in the state, said Atiku was expected to arrive at Sultan Abubakar III International Airport at about 9am, and invited supporters and members of the public to welcome him before moving to the venue. He urged party executives in all 23 local government areas of the state to mobilise supporters.

Why the venue was kept quiet

The party had earlier withheld details of the venue, citing alleged intimidation, an attack on the convoy of its governorship candidate and the sealing of one of its campaign offices. On Tuesday, Atiku accused the Department of State Services of recruiting protesters to disrupt the rally, a claim the DSS had not publicly answered. The Sokoto State Government said it sealed the office over questions about who owns the building and to prevent further disturbances.

Background

Atiku, a former vice-president, is the ADC's candidate after the party became the platform of an opposition coalition. Sokoto is in the North-West, a region with a large share of Nigeria's voters, and is governed by the APC. Other candidates, including President Bola Tinubu of the APC and Peter Obi of the NDC, have also been holding rallies and town halls across the country.

What happens next

Security agencies are expected to be deployed in Sokoto for the event, and the ADC plans further rallies in other states.

The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, has defended President Bola Tinubu's academic record, describing him as a genius.

What he said

Speaking on a television politics programme on Tuesday, 3 November 2026, Alausa reportedly said Tinubu graduated with a first class degree in accounting from Chicago State University in the United States. He said he knew the university well, had visited it many times, and had met many of the President's former classmates in person. He urged Nigerians to disregard what he described as the opposition's claims about the President's credentials, and called Tinubu the first internationally exposed president.

Background

Questions about the President's academic records were raised by opponents before and after the 2023 election. Chicago State University released records confirming that Tinubu graduated in 1979, and the Supreme Court dismissed petitions challenging his election, including claims about his certificates. Opposition figures have continued to raise the issue in political debates. Supporters say the matter has been settled by the courts and the university.

Background on the minister

Alausa, a medical doctor who practised in the United States, was appointed Minister of Education in 2024. He has introduced several policy changes in the sector.

How people reacted

APC supporters welcomed the comments, while critics said the minister's remarks would not end the debate and that voters care more about the economy than academic records.

Former Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory, Oloye Jumoke Akinjide, has announced her return to active politics ahead of the 2027 general elections, and has thrown her weight behind the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The announcement

In a statement issued on her behalf by her special assistant, Olatundun Gabriel, on Tuesday, 3 November 2026, Akinjide's team thanked her supporters for their loyalty and patience and said a new phase of political engagement had begun. The statement reportedly declared her support for President Bola Tinubu's Renewed Hope agenda and for the APC governorship candidate in Oyo State, Senator Sharafadeen Alli. Her team urged supporters across the state to stay united as she resumes political activity.

Background

Akinjide served as Minister of State for the FCT under President Goodluck Jonathan and was a prominent member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State. Her move adds to a series of political realignments in Oyo, where Governor Seyi Makinde is completing his second term and is now the presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement. Several officials have recently left Makinde's government, including a commissioner and two other appointees who resigned on Monday.

Why it matters

Oyo is one of the largest states in the South West, and the governorship seat will be open in 2027. The APC hopes defections like Akinjide's will help it win back the state, while the PDP and other parties insist they remain strong.