The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Adamawa State Chapter, has distanced itself from reports that it endorsed any governorship candidate ahead of the 2027 general elections, insisting that no individual or group was authorised to speak on its behalf in such a matter.

The state chairman of CAN, Rev. Joel Manzo, who addressed the issue in a statement, said neither the association nor any of its recognised organs gave their blessing to such a representation or pronouncement. He clarified that the endorsement attributed to the body did not have the consent or approval of the duly constituted leadership of the association, and that any such declaration was made without authority.

Manzo described as inappropriate any attempt by any individual or group regardless of their standing within the Christian community to make declarations or endorsements on behalf of CAN without going through the proper channels. He warned that such unauthorised actions carry the potential to create misunderstanding, sow seeds of division among believers, and undermine the unity that the Church represents. “It is inappropriate for any individual or group, regardless of status or position, to make declarations or endorsements on behalf of CAN without the consent and approval of the duly constituted leadership of the Association,” he said.

The CAN chairman was careful not to frame the matter as hostility toward any particular aspirant, noting that all those seeking leadership positions in Adamawa State are regarded as sons and daughters of the association. He further clarified that while groups affiliated with the Christian community are at liberty to hold personal political views and preferences, no such group carries the mandate to speak for the Women Wing, Youth Wing, or the broader CAN Adamawa body without proper authorisation from the state leadership.

In a related development, the CAN Women’s Wing in Adamawa also separately issued a denial, clarifying that a recent visit to APC governorship candidate Ahmed Tijjani Galadima the former Executive Secretary of the Petroleum Technology Development Fund who emerged winner of the party’s governorship primary was made by delegates from the Kauna Christian Women Forum, and not by the official Women Wing of CAN, Adamawa State Chapter. The group stated categorically that it had not adopted or endorsed any candidate for the 2027 general elections.

Galadima polled 414,444 votes at the APC primary to defeat other contenders, including former federal lawmaker Abdulrazak Namdas and businessman Abdulrahman Haske, consolidating his position as the party’s flagbearer for Adamawa’s governorship race against incumbent Governor Ahmadu Fintiri, who is expected to face a fierce challenge from a competitive field.