The Christian body last week in a letter to various church blocs in the state directed them to vote for the PDP governorship candidate Lt. Col. Agbu Kefas (rtd).
The endorsement did not go down well with the All ProgressivesCongress, Labour Party, and Social Democratic Party governorship candidates in the state who at a press conference expressed disappointment over the CAN decision.
Addressing a press conference in Jalingo, CAN chairman in the state, Rev. Isaiah Magaji said the decision to endorse the PDP candidate was to unite the five Christian governorship candidates and dose the tension that was being generated.
“CAN has been playing a major role in uniting the church and providing a way forward in such circumstances. In 2011, Late Danbaba and Ikenya were locked up in the field, and to avoid bloodshed, we intervened and endorsed Late Danbaba Suntai.
“In 2015, the same scenario played out between Darius Ishaku and David Sabo Kente. Those crying today have been beneficiaries of CAN interventions in the past, and they are where they are today because of CAN’s leadership role.
“We are concerned with the growing tension and the consequences that might follow. Before we arrived at the decision, Church blocs and local government chapters of CAN were contacted, and their input was used to arrive at the decision,” he said.
While cautioning politicians to stop over heating the polity with the endorsement, CAN said all the candidates were contacted before the endorsement, adding that CAN respects all the candidates and is willing to work with them in their future political career.
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