NEWS
Plateau Cleric, Rev. Ezekiel Dachomo Denies Praying for Tinubu, Shettima’s Victory in 2027
Rev. Ezekiel Dachomo, Regional Chairman of the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN) in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State, has rejected reports suggesting that he prayed for President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima to win the 2027 presidential election.
The cleric said his prayers were directed at the wellbeing, peace and success of Nigeria and its citizens, insisting that they should not be interpreted as an endorsement of the All Progressives Congress (APC) or its Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket.
Dachomo issued the clarification following reactions generated on social media over a prayer he shared for Nigeria and its leaders.
According to the cleric, some commentators interpreted the prayer as a political endorsement and claimed that he had asked God to grant Tinubu and Shettima victory at the 2027 presidential election.
He, however, explained that the post contained no declaration of support for either the President or Vice President in the forthcoming election.
The clarification comes as political activities and public debate surrounding the 2027 presidential election continue to intensify, with religious identity and the possibility of another Muslim-Muslim ticket remaining among the issues generating strong reactions across the country.
Dachomo is currently in Israel on what he described as his first international Christian Advocacy Tour, a trip he said was aimed at drawing greater international attention to the persistent attacks, killings and insecurity affecting communities in Plateau State and other parts of Nigeria. He arrived in Israel on October 2 and has indicated that he intends to engage Christian leaders, prayer groups and other international voices over the security situation in Nigeria.
The Plateau cleric has consistently spoken out about attacks on communities in the state and has called for stronger intervention to protect residents and prevent further loss of lives. He said his decision to pray for Nigeria should not be misconstrued as campaigning for any political candidate.
“People are trying to frame me, saying I prayed for a Muslim-Muslim ticket. But I did not, and I will never pray for a Muslim-Muslim ticket because Nigeria belongs to both Muslims and Christians,” he wrote.
Dachomo stressed that his position was rooted in his desire to see Nigeria succeed irrespective of the religious identity of those occupying political offices.
“I pray for both Muslims and Christians in Nigeria. I pray for Nigeria to succeed. If you truly want to come to God, come with a clean heart.”
The cleric further made it clear that he did not ask God to grant Tinubu and Shettima victory in the 2027 presidential election.
“I did not pray for President Tinubu and Vice President Shettima to win in 2027. My prayers have always been for Nigeria to succeed,” he added.
Tinubu and Shettima contested the 2023 presidential election under the APC on a Muslim-Muslim ticket, a decision that generated intense debate among Nigerians and religious groups.
The issue remains politically sensitive ahead of the 2027 election, particularly as political parties begin positioning themselves and potential candidates emerge.
Dachomo’s latest clarification therefore seeks to draw a distinction between his prayers for the nation and any perceived political alignment, stressing that his intervention should be viewed within the context of his wider campaign for peace, security and national survival.
His current trip to Israel forms part of that campaign. The cleric has said he wants to use the international advocacy tour to bring the security challenges confronting Plateau State and the wider Middle Belt to the attention of international Christian organisations and influential figures.
He also expressed his intention to draw the attention of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the killings and insecurity affecting communities in Nigeria.
“By the mercy of God, I will be addressing the world in Israel,” Dachomo had said while announcing the trip.
He further explained that his advocacy would extend beyond Christian communities, stressing that his prayers would cover victims of violence irrespective of their religion, ethnicity or region.
“Preachers from America, from China, from around the world, we will meet face-to-face. I am coming to stand for Nigeria and to pray for our nation: for Muslims being killed in Zamfara, Kebbi, Sokoto and Katsina; for Christians; for my Biafran brothers; and for the release of Nnamdi Kanu from Sokoto prison.”
The cleric’s position on insecurity has been shaped by personal experiences, including the loss of members of his extended family to attacks.
In July 2026, nine members of his extended family were reportedly killed during an attack on Kum community in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State.
A two-month-old baby was among those killed in the attack, further deepening concerns over the devastating impact of violence on vulnerable communities.
Following his continued criticism of the security situation and calls for greater intervention, Dachomo also disclosed that he had received threats.
Despite the threats, the cleric has continued to speak publicly about insecurity and to advocate for greater attention to communities affected by violence.
His advocacy has increasingly extended beyond Nigeria, with the Israel trip representing an effort to engage international religious and advocacy networks over the crisis.
In March, Dachomo also accused National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu of allegedly influencing the direction of proposed United States security assistance to northern Nigeria, claiming that Plateau State was excluded despite his previous appeals for international intervention.
With the 2027 presidential election drawing closer, Dachomo’s latest clarification has placed renewed attention on the intersection of religion, politics and the security crisis in Nigeria, even as the cleric insists that his prayers are directed not at securing victory for any candidate, but at the survival, peace and success of the Nigerian nation.