U.S. To Closely Watch Nigeria’s 2027 Elections, May Tie Security Support To Religious Freedom, Poll Conduct — Congressman

The United States will closely monitor Nigeria’s 2027 general elections and may tie future security and financial assistance to issues relating to religious freedom and the conduct of the polls, a United States congressman, Riley Moore, has said.

Moore, a Republican representing West Virginia, disclosed this in an interview with NoireTV, saying Nigeria’s next elections had become a matter of interest to Washington.

According to him, both the U.S. Congress and the Trump administration will pay close attention to how the elections are conducted and how the results unfold.

“What I’d say is that we’re certainly going to be watching these results and how these elections unfold and how they’re executed. And that’s something that myself and the administration are going to be paying very close attention to,” Moore said.

The congressman also disclosed that the U.S. House of Representatives was working on an appropriations bill containing strong provisions on Nigeria, particularly in relation to alleged persecution of Christians and restrictions on security assistance to the Nigerian government.

He said he was also working on a bill sponsored by Congressman Chris Smith, which he co-sponsored, but noted that the appropriations bill was more significant because of its likely binding effect on U.S.-Nigeria relations.

“We’re working on Chris Smith’s bill, which obviously I’m a co-sponsor. But I’d say, more importantly, is the appropriations bill that we’re going to have on the floor,” he said.

According to Moore, the bill contains provisions addressing “the persecution of Christians and restrictions on security assistance to the government of Nigeria,” as well as steps the Nigerian government must take.

“That bill’s likely to become law. We’re about to, hopefully, pass that. And so there’s some pretty strong and aggressive language in that bill that’s going to be binding as it relates to our relationship to Nigeria moving forward,” he added.

Moore said he remained in direct engagement with President Donald Trump’s administration on Nigeria and would continue raising concerns over religious freedom and security cooperation.

He disclosed that he was scheduled to meet President Trump and other members of Congress at a dinner, where he planned to further discuss the matter.

“I continue to work with the administration on next steps that we’re going to take. I’m actually going to see President Trump tonight.

“I’ll be having dinner with him and some other members, so yeah, I continue to talk to him about these issues, and it’s very important to him,” Moore said.

His comments suggest that Nigeria’s 2027 elections, religious freedom record and security cooperation with the United States may come under closer scrutiny in Washington as U.S. lawmakers consider new legislative conditions for assistance to the Nigerian government.

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