The Primate of Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion, Most Rev. Nicholas Okoh, on Tuesday in Abuja, called on Christians to shun vote buying and other electoral vices in the forthcoming 2019 general elections.
Okoh gave the warning while addressing newsmen at the 2018 Divine Commonwealth Conference (DIVCCON), Christian National Centre in Abuja, on the theme: ‘I will restore’ which was drawn from a Biblical verse, Joel 2:25.
He said that Christians should diligently elect the candidates of their choice.
“Electioneering period is coming again and we must not forget the scripture that says: ‘As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also’.
“ You cannot, after praying here for one week for God to restore Nigeria, then you return home to sell your vote or aid ill-willed politicians to their elections for temporary selfish benefits,” he said.
Okoh said they could not afford to indulge in sinful habits, while expecting the nation and the church to be truly and permanently restored.
He urged Christians to be representatives of their communities, states and the nation by carrying the message back home to everyone that they should ensure that their votes count and say no to vote buying.
According to him, they should not allow themselves to be cheated, so that the future of their family would not be compromised.
The cleric said that the country would be better in unity, urging Nigerians to pray for peaceful coexistence in the nation.
He said that the 2019 general elections would be more peaceful than that of 2015.