Archbishop Leonard Bature Kawas, the President-General of the Charismatic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), has defended his active involvement in national politics, revealing that he supported Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi during the 2023 election cycle without receiving any financial remuneration or gifts.
Kawas addressed the matter on Sunday evening, September 13, 2026, during a live appearance on Arise News’ Prime Time program broadcast from Abuja.
He responded directly to public backlash following his recent endorsement of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term, which led critics and political supporters on social media to label him and his council members as “fake bishops”.
Rebuffing the allegations, Archbishop Kawas emphasized his decades-long career in Christian ministry and his history of non-transactional political engagement. He disclosed that his early alignment with Peter Obi’s presidential campaign was self-funded out of personal conviction.
”I supported Peter Obi at the initial stage of his presidential ambition and went with him everywhere in Nigeria, and he never gave me one dollar, one naira. He never asked me how I came or which hotel I slept in, yet I did it and nobody called me fake. He would just see me at the campaign; we would pray for him, I would pay the transportation of six clergymen, we would come there and support him.”
Kawas noted that political participation among religious leaders is grounded in biblical mandates to pray for leaders and work toward the nation’s stability, rather than seeking financial gain.
He outlined a long history of political involvement spanning over two decades:
Olusegun Obasanjo, i traveled across Nigeria mobilising church congregations and offering late-night prayers for his political ambitions.
Goodluck Jonathan, I Supported him, starting from his tenure as Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State and served as the sole bishop on his Presidential Campaign Council.
Atiku Abubakar & Jolly Nyame, Supported their political efforts at various stages without facing public attacks over his clerical credentials.
”I have been a bishop for 25 years and an archbishop for 14 years. Nobody called us fake when we supported Jonathan or Obi,” Kawas stated, arguing that the sudden label of “fake bishop” stems purely from partisan bias over his support for the current administration.
He reaffirmed the CBCN’s decision to support President Tinubu’s administration, citing the administration’s inclusiveness, security interventions, and appointment policies.
