We did not endorse Kogi Gov, Bello, for 2023 – Northern CAN

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the Northern states and Abuja, has debunked stories making the rounds that it has thrown its weight behind Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, ahead of the 2023 presidential election.

The Northern CAN who spoke through its Public Relations Officer, Chaplain Jechonia Gilbert, said the body does not involve itself in politics and had never adopted any individual for an elective position in the history of elections in Nigeria and won’t do so in the 2023 elections.

The organization made the clarification via a communiqué issued on Tuesday after its Extraordinary Meeting held at Excel Hotel in Abuja, saying it neither endorsed Bello nor any other candidate for the 2023 presidential election.

Also Read: Why we won’t endorse any candidate for 2023 – Catholic Church

“We want to clarify the recent report in some online papers that Northern CAN had adopted Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State as its presidential candidate for the 2023 general elections.

“Northern CAN, from history, has never adopted any individual for any elective position in the history of elections in Nigeria and neither will it do so this time.

“Our duty to the Nigerian nation as a religious body is to pray for the peace of the nation and encourage our members to participate in every constitutional process towards nation-building.

“As an organisation with large followership and its members belonging to different political persuasions, it is unthinkable to assume that we have adopted a particular individual who is not even a flag bearer of any political party as our candidate for the 2023 presidential elections.

“We call on the public to disregard such reportage as it is never the thought or imagination of Northern CAN. There has never been any meeting of the leadership of Northern CAN where such a decision was ever taken.”