Nigeria: US to ‘closely watch’ Nigeria’s 2027 elections
By Zuleihat Owuiye, Nigeria
The United States says it will be closely monitoring Nigeria’s 2027 general elections, with a senior Republican lawmaker warning that Washington’s security and financial support will be tied to religious freedom and how the polls are conducted.
US Congressman Riley Moore, a Republican representing West Virginia, made the disclosure in an interview with _NoireTV_ on Sunday, July 6, 2026.
Speaking on the 2027 elections, Moore said the conduct of the polls is now a direct priority for Washington.
“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,” he stated.
The congressman linked US scrutiny to broader concerns about governance and rights in Nigeria, indicating that the outcome and process of the elections will shape America’s engagement moving forward.
*New Bill Targets Security Aid and Religious Persecution*
Moore revealed that the US House of Representatives is advancing an appropriations bill with what he described as “strong and aggressive language” on Nigeria.
“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,” Moore said.
According to him, the bill includes provisions on “the persecution of Christians and restrictions on security assistance to the government of Nigeria, and steps they have to take.”
He added that the measure is expected to pass: “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.”
If enacted, the restrictions would condition or limit US security assistance to Nigeria based on steps Abuja takes regarding religious freedom and the treatment of Christian communities.
Moore said he is in regular contact with the Trump administration on Nigeria and plans to raise the issue again at a scheduled dinner with President Donald Trump.
“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,” the congressman said.
The comments signal that Nigeria’s 2027 polls and religious freedom record are likely to feature in high-level US policy discussions in the coming months.
The US has historically been a key security and development partner for Nigeria, providing training, equipment, and intelligence support, particularly in counterterrorism operations. Conditioning that assistance would represent a significant shift in bilateral relations.
International election monitoring is also common ahead of Nigerian polls, with the US, EU, and other partners typically deploying observers and issuing statements on credibility and inclusivity. Moore’s remarks suggest a more explicit linkage between election conduct, religious freedom, and continued US support.
The reference to Rep. Chris Smith’s bill points to long-standing concerns in Congress about violence and discrimination against religious minorities in Nigeria. Similar legislation in the past has sought to mandate reporting and policy responses from the State Department.
With Nigeria’s next general elections scheduled for 2027, political parties are already mobilising and INEC has begun laying groundwork for the polls. International attention at this early stage indicates that the conduct of the elections will be under close review well before campaigning begins.
For now, the US position is clear: the 2027 elections will be a test case for the relationship, and aid will not be separated from rights and governance issues.
