Rev. Ezekiel Dachomo, the Regional Chairman of the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN) in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State, has denied praying for President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima to win the 2027 presidential election.
The cleric said his prayers were for Nigeria and its people and should not be interpreted as an endorsement of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Muslim-Muslim ticket for the next presidential election.
Dachomo made the clarification after reports and comments circulating on social media suggested that he had prayed for Tinubu and Shettima to retain power in 2027.
According to him, the interpretation was based on a post in which he prayed for the country and its leaders.
He said the message did not contain any declaration supporting the President and his deputy for the 2027 election.
The Plateau cleric is currently in Israel on what he described as his first international Christian Advocacy Tour.
He travelled to the country amid his continued campaign for international attention to attacks and killings in Plateau State and other parts of Nigeria.
Recall that Politics Nigeria had earlier reported that Dachomo travelled to Israel as part of an international campaign to draw attention to killings and insecurity in Plateau State.
He said the trip was aimed at taking the situation beyond Nigeria and engaging Christian groups and other international voices over the violence affecting communities in the state.
Dachomo said his decision to pray for Nigeria should not be confused with 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.
He stressed that his position was based on his desire for the country to succeed, regardless of the religion 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 stated that he did not ask God to give Tinubu and Shettima victory at the 2027 polls.
“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.
The clarification comes against the background of the growing political debate ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Tinubu and Shettima emerged as the APC presidential and vice-presidential candidates in 2023 on a Muslim-Muslim ticket, a decision that caused strong reactions across the country.
The cleric has remained vocal on national issues, particularly the security situation in Plateau State.
He has repeatedly spoken about attacks on communities and called for stronger action to protect residents.
He has also sought international attention to the security crisis through his current trip to Israel.
Dachomo arrived in Israel on October 2 and said he intended to use the visit to speak about the situation in Plateau and the wider Middle Belt.
He is also seeking contact with Christian leaders and prayer groups from different countries as part of the advocacy programme.
The cleric had earlier said he wanted to draw the attention of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the killings 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 also said his prayers would not be restricted to Christians.
“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 has remained particularly strong on the security situation in Plateau, where he has lost 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 the state.
A two-month-old baby was among those killed.
Dachomo later disclosed that he had received threats following his outspoken position on the insecurity in the area.
Dachomo has continued to speak publicly despite the threats.
In March, he accused National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu of allegedly influencing the direction of proposed US security assistance to northern Nigeria, claiming that Plateau was left out despite his earlier appeals for international intervention.