US to closely monitor Nigeria’s 2027 general elections

The Administration of Donald Trump will closely monitor how Nigeria conducts its 2027 general elections, Riley Moore, US Congressman, has said.

Moore, a Republican representing West Virginia, said the United States would pay “very close attention” to the conduct and outcome of the polls, stressing that the elections would be closely watched by both himself and the Trump administration.

Speaking in an interview with NoireTV, excerpts of which were published on the platform’s social media pages on Sunday, the congressman said credible elections in Nigeria remain an important issue for Washington.

Responding to a question on whether the United States could do more to support credible elections in Nigeria, Moore said, “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 disclosed that the US House of Representatives is considering an appropriations bill containing provisions affecting Nigeria, particularly on religious freedom and US security assistance.

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

According to Moore, the legislation contains what he described as “pretty strong and aggressive language” governing future US engagement with Nigeria.

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“There’s a lot of language that I put on that bill that relates to Nigeria, the persecution of Christians and restrictions on security assistance to the government of Nigeria, and the steps they have to take,” he said.

He expressed optimism that the bill would eventually become law, adding that its provisions would be binding on future US relations with Nigeria.

“That bill’s likely to become law. We’re about to, hopefully, pass that here today. 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 with Nigeria moving forward,” Moore stated.

The lawmaker also revealed that he would continue discussing Nigeria-related issues directly with Trump, saying he was scheduled to meet the US president at a dinner alongside other members of Congress.

“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,” he added.

Moore is a co-sponsor of the Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026, introduced in February alongside fellow Congressman Chris Smith.

The proposed legislation seeks to require the US Secretary of State to submit regular reports to Congress detailing efforts to address religious persecution and mass atrocities in Nigeria.

It also calls for periodic assessments of Nigeria’s compliance with international religious freedom obligations, reviews of US security assistance, sanctions, humanitarian support, and measures taken by Nigerian authorities to protect vulnerable communities and prosecute perpetrators of violent attacks.

Separately, the US House Appropriations Committee in April 2026 approved provisions in its annual State Department funding bill that would impose stricter oversight on American assistance to Nigeria.

Under the proposal, 50% of US foreign assistance allocated to Nigeria would be withheld until the US government certifies that Nigerian authorities are taking effective steps to address religious violence.

The bill also requires that US assistance support investigations and prosecutions of violence attributed to Fulani militia groups, while urging the Nigerian government to facilitate the safe return of internally displaced persons to their communities.