By Iyoho Emmanuel
ABUJA — As Nigeria prepares for the 2027 general elections, the Director-General of the Peace and Philanthropic Movement International Foundation (PPMIF), Archbishop John Micah, has led prayers for peace, national stability and a peaceful electoral process, with specific prayers offered for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima and other national and state leaders.
The prayers formed a major part of the Abuja Summit 2026 of the foundation held on Wednesday at Akwa Ibom House, Central Business District, Abuja, which also featured the inauguration of the foundation’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja chapter.
Among those mentioned in the prayers were President Tinubu, Vice President Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Akwa Ibom governor, Pastor Umo Eno, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, members of the National and State Houses of Assembly and other political leaders and candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The summit, organised under the leadership of Micah, brought together religious leaders, members of the foundation and guests from different parts of the country for prayers, the inauguration of the Abuja chapter and discussions on peace, leadership and philanthropy.
Speaking in an interview at the event, Micah, who is also the Senior Legislative Aide ,Religious Affairs to the Senate President , said the Abuja inauguration was the physical manifestation of prayers and meetings which the foundation had been conducting for the country.
He explained that although the foundation had been carrying out activities in Abuja, including strategic meetings and prayers, the summit provided an opportunity for the organisation to formally establish its presence in the Federal Capital Territory.
“Today was an official inauguration of the Peace and Philanthropic Movement International Foundation, Abuja Chapter,” Micah said.
According to him, representatives from across the 36 states of the federation were invited to witness the inauguration, stressing that the Abuja event would be followed by a nationwide programme to inaugurate chapters of the organisation in other states.
He said the foundation had been praying regularly for Nigeria, its government and people in leadership, adding that the organisation would continue to stand in the gap for the nation, particularly as the country moves towards the 2027 general elections.
“We pray individually. We pray on a daily basis for the government of Nigeria, for the land of Nigeria and for people in leadership,” he said.
Micah said the prayers included the President and Vice President, the Senate President, ministers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and other leaders at the federal and state levels.
He specifically prayed for the continued strengthening of the nation’s leadership and for the peace being experienced in the country to be sustained.
“My prayer for Abuja and the nation is that the peace that is reigning, God will keep on strengthening our leadership so that this peace will be sustained,” he stated.
He also called for a peaceful 2027 electoral process, stressing that elections should not become a source of violence or division among Nigerians.
Explaining the purpose of the foundation, Micah said PPMIF was established to promote peace and philanthropy while providing spiritual and practical support to vulnerable members of society.
“The purpose of this meeting is to stand in the gap for peace, for government, leadership, youth, men, women, churches, for God,” he added.
He explained that, in addition to prayers, the organisation engages in philanthropic activities, particularly programmes aimed at supporting widows and empowering them economically.
“At times we gather widows to pray for the nations, for the people. We also assist them. We also provide provision for entrepreneurial trainings,” he said.
Micah disclosed that the foundation had trained more than 200 widows across Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District through its entrepreneurial development programmes.
He assured that the organisation would continue to combine prayers with practical interventions aimed at improving the lives of vulnerable people.
On the leadership of Nigeria and Akwa Ibom State, Micah expressed appreciation to President Tinubu, Vice President Shettima, Governor Eno, Senate President Akpabio and Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, among others, while praying for divine guidance and strength for those in government.
He also commended the former Akwa Ibom Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, for his support for the foundation, recalling his association with some of the organisation’s activities in the state.
Micah further prayed for peace in Akwa Ibom State and the country as political activities towards the 2027 elections gather momentum.
The cleric said the foundation’s activities were not limited to politics, stressing that its broader mission was to promote peace, support leadership, empower vulnerable people and contribute to the wellbeing of society.
The Abuja Summit also marked the beginning of the foundation’s planned expansion across the country, with Micah announcing that PPMIF would move from state to state to inaugurate chapters and strengthen its structures.
He said the organisation would continue to mobilise religious and philanthropic-minded Nigerians to pray for the nation, support vulnerable persons and encourage peace and responsible leadership.
The event also featured awards presentation to deserving indigenes of the stated who have distinguished their selves in their various fields of endeavour.
A member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Clement Jimbo, who represents Abak/Etim Ekpo/Ika Federal Constituency, was honoured at the event with an Award of Excellence for his outstanding performance as a member of the National Assembly.
Speaking with journalists on the sidelines of the summit, Jimbo said the gathering demonstrated the keen interest of the Christian community in governance and the well-being of the nation.
According to him, committing the nation’s leaders to God through prayers could provide divine direction in the discharge of their responsibilities.
“When people gather like this to raise an altar of praise, an altar of prayer to God, to commit leaders in our nation to God, it goes a very long way to show that the body of Christ is equally interested in governance,” he said.
Jimbo who appreciated God and the group for the recognition and Award noted that words and prayers are powerful instruments capable of influencing circumstances and encouraging leaders towards productive actions.
The federal lawmaker, described himself as a Christian, added that belief in divine intervention was not limited to one faith, stressing that people of different religious backgrounds could testify to the existence of a superior being.
The Abuja Summit, therefore, provided a platform for the foundation to combine its call for peaceful elections with its wider programme of prayer, peacebuilding and philanthropy as it formally inaugurated its Abuja/FCT chapter.
The Summit also marked the beginning of the foundation’s planned expansion across the country, with Micah announcing that PPMIF would move from state to state to inaugurate chapters and strengthen its structures.