ABUJA — The political objectivity of the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), Bishop Stephen Tunde Victor Adegbite, has come under scrutiny following recent television remarks defending President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Critiques from political observers and former committee members within the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) point to Adegbite’s long-standing partisan affiliation as a vocal supporter of Tinubu. During the 2023 presidential election cycle, Adegbite was among the prominent CAN officials who openly backed Tinubu’s campaign before being subsequently appointed by the President to head the NCPC.
The debate re-emerged after Adegbite’s appearance on national television, where he dismissed political prophecies surrounding the 2027 election, urged Nigerians to judge the President by infrastructure projects like the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway, and recalled how senior clerics such as Catholic Cardinal John Onaiyekan initially withheld recognition of Tinubu’s victory pending the Supreme Court’s verdict in 2023.
While commentators emphasize that political allegiance is not inherently improper—particularly for a presidential appointee—analysts note that Adegbite’s public commentary reflects the voice of an established political supporter rather than an unaligned religious stakeholder.
