…Christians have not been participating fully- Gov Bago
Daniel Atori
The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Niger state chapter has called on Christians to match their prayers with responsible civic action, adding that “the Church can no longer afford political indifference.”
State Chairman of the PFN, Pastor PeteRock Sadiq said while delivering an address to mark the 14th anniversary of House on the Rock, Minna, during the church’s ongoing Quantum Leap Conference 2026 with the theme ‘Over & Above’ that the Body of Christ is not a political party and will never become one as it remains a moral force in the society.
In an interview, Niger state Governor, Umaru Bago who was represented by the Coordinator, Christian Affairs, Pastor Isah Lawrence told Christians to participants and earn any appointive or selective positions.
According to him “christians have not been fully participating in politics either with their time, finances and sacrifices. It is time to work as one faith.
“Before Christians have been just like rolling stones, but now we want them to have focus because if you don’t know where you are going to, you should know where you are coming from.
“Christians need to participate fully in politics so that when it comes to the period of appointment, we will be given serious positions. If you do not participate, you do not have the rights to demand for or is it automatically they just call and say come and take appointments?”
He then assured that, in the forthcoming elections, if Christians participate they will be carried along and appointed into positions.
Pastor Sadiq however called on Governor Umaru Bago for fair political representation and inclusion for every community in the state, saying “Christians should not be excluded from political leadership, appointments, or opportunities; just as no other religious community should be excluded.
“This is not a call to rivalry; it is a call to fairness. We will pursue equity through dialogue and lawful engagement, in brotherhood with Muslim neighbours and traditional institutions”.
He went further to state that: “we are not a political party, but we are a moral force and a moral force cannot be politically indifferent.
“When leadership fails, it is not statistics that suffer, it is the farmer, the widow, the schoolchild, the young graduate.”
The PFN Chairman who is also the Pastor of House on the Rock in Minna then charged registered voters in the state to collect their Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVCs) and to verify their names and details on the voters’ register currently on public display.
According to him, “a card registered but never collected is a voice registered but never heard. Heaven answers prayers, but heaven will not collect a voter’s card on your behalf. So, pray at the altar, and participate at the ballot.”
The PFN Chairman appealed to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure that voter registration be made “continuous in practice, not only in name.”
Speaking on the choice of leaders, the PFN Chairman tasked citizens to measure every candidate vying for elective positions at every level by integrity, competence, capacity, track record, the fear of God, respect for human life, and a demonstrated commitment to justice and development.
Furthermore, he disclosed that, “the Church will not choose your candidate for you, but the Church will insist on the standard”.
Pastor Sadiq subsequently warned against vote buying saying “a vote sold is a future mortgaged. The bag of rice finishes in weeks; the bad government it purchased remains for years. When you sell your vote, you have sold your children’s school, your family’s hospital, your community’s road, and your own security. Let it be said of us: our conscience was not for sale.”
He then demanded for a more practical, funded, and measurable security policies from government at all levels including the protection of rural communities and farming settlements.
