The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has disowned Archbishop Chivir Chianson, stating that he is not its General Secretary and has no authority to speak on its behalf.
CAN President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, issued the clarification on Wednesday in Abuja following attempts by Chianson and his group to present him as the association’s scribe and link the Christian body to political mobilization ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“For the avoidance of doubt, Archbishop Chianson is not the general secretary of CAN and has no authority or mandate to speak or act on its behalf. Furthermore, the group he represents has no official affiliation, working relationship, or institutional connection with CAN,” Okoh said.
He emphasized that CAN has not authorized or endorsed any individual or group to undertake political mobilization in its name, warning the public that any political activity attributed to them does not represent the association.
Okoh reaffirmed CAN’s political neutrality ahead of the 2027 polls, stressing that the umbrella body will continue to engage national issues objectively and hold leaders accountable without backing any candidate or party.
He urged the public, Christian community, and media organizations to disregard claims of official representation by Chianson’s group and called on news outlets to verify credentials before presenting individuals as CAN representatives.
Okoh added that the association will take appropriate measures to protect its identity and institutional integrity from unauthorized representation.
