Abuja will host a gathering of Nigeria’s political and religious elite next Sunday as the Christian Legislators Fellowship of the National Assembly commissions a new 750-capacity chapel, a project born out of longstanding calls for equal religious spaces within the legislative grounds.
The dedication ceremony, set for March 1, 2026, underscores the push for spiritual equity in a nation where faith has long shaped public life and governance. Organised by the fellowship, the event will draw eminent Nigerians, senior clerics, and policymakers from various regions, reflecting the chapel’s role as a unifying symbol for Christian lawmakers and staff.
In a statement released on Tuesday and jointly signed by the fellowship’s president, Senator Binus Yaroe, and secretary, Bamidele Salam, a member of the House of Representatives, the group described the occasion as a milestone. “The dedication of the chapel marks a new phase in efforts to strengthen spiritual fellowship among Christian lawmakers and staff members,” the statement read. It further noted that the commissioning is expected to “bring together prominent Christian leaders, policymakers, and dignitaries in a moment of thanksgiving and spiritual reflection.”
Key attendees include Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, former Head of State General Yakubu Gowon, and former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan. Other notable guests encompass the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Archbishop Daniel Okoh; the President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, Bishop Francis Wale Oke; and the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Hassan Kukah. Several clerics and Christian leaders from denominations across the country are also anticipated to participate.
The non-denominational chapel’s construction traces back to May 2019, initiated under the tenure of then-Speaker of the House of Representatives Yakubu Dogara. Public records show that the project stemmed from persistent appeals by Christian legislators and staff for a permanent worship space. For years, a mosque has served Muslim members and workers within the National Assembly premises, while Christians depended on makeshift venues for services, fellowship meetings, and observances.
Advocates, as outlined in fellowship documents, emphasised that a dedicated chapel would promote religious parity, foster inclusion, and provide a stable setting for spiritual activities without interfering with legislative duties. The facility is intended for use by members of both the Senate and House of Representatives, legislative aides, and staff. It will host regular worship, counselling, and intercessory sessions, functioning as a spiritual hub to encourage unity, moral reflection, and faith-based support in the legislative community.
“The chapel will serve as a spiritual hub aimed at fostering unity, moral reflection, and faith-based support among members of the legislative community,” the fellowship’s statement added. Wide participation from the legislative body and the broader Christian public is expected, positioning the dedication as a key addition to faith infrastructure in Nigeria’s parliament.
This development arrives amid broader religious and political shifts in the country. In Lagos, the state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria recently renamed its new permanent secretariat after Senator Oluremi Tinubu, marking the end of nearly three decades without a dedicated administrative base. According to a CAN Lagos announcement, the facility in Alausa, Ikeja, was declared open by national CAN President Archbishop Daniel Okoh during the group’s 2026 Annual Interdenominational Divine Service, themed “Immanuel: God With Us” from Matthew 1:23, held at The Apostolic Church Nigeria in Olorunda, Ketu.
Meanwhile, political undercurrents continue to influence public discourse. In Adamawa State, a lawmaker has resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party, adding to recent defections that signal evolving party dynamics. Separately, Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma attributed public discontent with President Bola Tinubu’s reforms to communication lapses within the All Progressives Congress. Speaking at a party summit, Uzodimma highlighted economic gains from the reforms but stressed the need for better messaging, stating, “The problem is not policy failure. The problem is a communication failure.”
Nigeria’s religious landscape has historically intertwined with its politics, often defining governance structures and public policy. Colonial-era divisions entrenched a north-south split, with Islam predominant in the north and Christianity in the south, a pattern that influenced post-independence state formation. The 1979 Constitution’s debates over Sharia courts exemplified this tension, where Muslim advocates sought federal recognition while Christians opposed it, leading to compromises that allowed state-level Sharia implementation but sparked ongoing disputes.
Public records from constitutional assemblies reveal repeated clashes, such as the 1978 Constituent Assembly walkout by Muslim members over Sharia provisions, and attempts in the 1980s to embed Islamic law federally. The 1999 Constitution, in Section 10, declares Nigeria secular, prohibiting state adoption of any religion, yet Sections 260-262 permit Sharia courts for civil matters, fueling perceptions of imbalance. Government funding for religious sites, including the Abuja National Mosque completed in 1984 and the National Christian Centre dedicated in 2005, has drawn criticism for blurring secular lines, as both were built with public resources to symbolise national unity.
In politics, religious balance has been a staple: presidential tickets since 1979 typically pair Muslim and Christian candidates to bridge divides, from the NPN’s Muslim-Christian slate to recent administrations like Buhari-Osinbajo. Electoral violence, such as post-2011 clashes tied to religious sentiments, underscores the risks when faith polarises voting. With Nigeria’s population roughly split between Muslims (about 50 percent) and Christians (around 49 percent, per Pew Research estimates), and traditional religions comprising the rest, analysts from bodies like the United States Institute of Peace note that religious identity often overshadows policy in campaigns.
The National Assembly chapel’s emergence reflects these dynamics, addressing a gap in infrastructure that mirrors broader calls for equity. As the fellowship anticipates robust attendance, the event stands as a testament to religion’s enduring role in fostering cohesion amid Nigeria’s diverse tapestry.
