The administration of US President Donald Trump will closely monitor Nigeria’s 2027 general elections, US Congressman Riley Moore has said.
Moore, a Republican representing West Virginia, said Washington would be paying “very close attention” to how Nigeria conducts the polls and the outcome of the electoral process.
He made the remarks during an interview with NoireTV, which was posted on the platform’s social media pages on Sunday.
Responding to a question on whether the United States could do more to support credible elections in Nigeria, Moore said, “We’re certainly going to be watching these results and how these elections unfold and how they’re executed. That’s something that myself and the administration are going to be paying very close attention to.”
The congressman also revealed that the US House of Representatives is considering an appropriations bill containing provisions related to Nigeria, particularly on religious freedom and US security assistance.
“We’re working on Chris Smith’s bill, which I’m a co-sponsor of. But more importantly, people need to pay attention to the appropriations bill that we’re going to have on the floor today,” Moore said.
According to him, the proposed legislation includes what he described as “strong and aggressive language” concerning Nigeria’s relationship with the United States.
“There’s a lot of language that I put into that bill relating to Nigeria, the persecution of Christians, restrictions on security assistance to the Nigerian government, and the steps it has to take.
“That bill is likely to become law. We hope to pass it today, and it contains provisions that will be binding as they relate to our relationship with Nigeria going forward,” he added.
Moore also said he would continue discussions with the Trump administration on Nigeria-related issues, disclosing that he was scheduled to meet the US president.
“I continue to work with the administration on the next steps 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 I continue to discuss these issues with him, and they’re very important to him,” he said.
Moore is a co-sponsor, alongside Congressman Chris Smith, of the proposed Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026, introduced in February.
The bill seeks to require the US Secretary of State to submit regular reports to Congress on efforts to address religious persecution and mass atrocities in Nigeria.
It also proposes periodic assessments of Nigeria’s compliance with international religious freedom obligations, reviews of US security assistance and sanctions, humanitarian support, and measures taken by the Nigerian government to protect vulnerable communities and prosecute those responsible for attacks.
