Kawas Clarifies Support for Tinubu's 2027 Candidacy

On 15 September 2026, Bishop Leonard Kawas, President of the Charismatic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria, clarified his earlier statement about supporting President Bola Tinubu “as long as he wants to be president.” Kawas explained that his comment was misinterpreted and strictly referred to the constitutional limits on presidential tenure in Nigeria. He asserted that the bishops' endorsement for the 2027 presidential election is contingent upon Tinubu's decision to run for a second term, emphasizing that they are law-abiding citizens who respect the two-term limit established by the Constitution.

Kawas stated, “Nobody’s a child,” indicating that the statement should not be construed as advocating for a life presidency. He reiterated that their support is based on Tinubu's choice to contest again, and he expressed that the original statement had been taken out of context, amidst criticism regarding the bishops' political endorsements.