By Luka Binniyat
(KADUNA) – The victory of the Democratic Party in the November 2026 United States midterm elections have generated fear and concerns among Christians and other vulnerable populations in Nigeria’s Middle Belt.
TruthNigeria sampled the opinion of some leaders of the area, otherwise known as the “Christian Belt” of Northern Nigeria.
It’s An Unfortunate Revolt
“The Midterm result of the election of the American Congress is an unfortunate revolt against Donald Trump and also a very unfortunate result for some of us who nurture true Christian values,” said Dr. Pogwu Bitrus to TruthNigeria from Abuja, Friday.
“But Trump is a strong man. His policies towards the oppressed Christians of the Middle Belt and other parts of the world will not change,” he said.
“What I expect him to do now is to hurry up and render all the assistance that he has for us before the reconstitution of the new Congress in January 2027,” he added.
“If I have to be frank to you, I have been having a headache since that result showed how badly the Republicans performed,” said Hon. Jonathan Asake, also a former Nigerian House of Reps member and former President of Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU)
“I cannot understand the American people,” he said, adding that, “it means that the liberty, freedom and security that they have been enjoying means nothing to most of them,” he queried.
“But I believe that even among the democrats there would still be some of them that will align with our suffering and support him when it comes to persecution of Christians.
“I understand that it is the war with Iran and rising costs of living that made the voters go against Republicans, not his battle against terrorism,” he said.
We Must Start Lobbying Now – CAN
The Secretary General of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), 19 Northern States plus the Federal Capital Territory Rev. Markus Sarki said that the loss of the Republican party is of serious concern to Nigerian Northern Christians.
“It was under Trump’s first administration that the genocide against the Christians of the north by Islamic badits and terrorists was taken very seriously by an American Government,” he said.
“It was during that time that Nigeria was placed as a Country of Particular Concern’ (CPC) and it got the attention of the world,” he added.
According to him, when Joe Biden of the Democrats defeated Donald Trump in 2021, everything became reversed.
“The Democrats promote unbiblical policies, such as abortion, gay, transgender and play down on the global danger of Islamic fundamentalism,” he added.
He said that with second coming of Donald Trump as president on the Republican party, Nigeria practicing Christians have started seeing the US returning to the values of its founding fathers, just to see the same Americans rejecting the Republicans in the crucial congressional election in November.
“What we will do now, is to see how we can lobby to ensure that the violence against us in Northern Nigeria is not downplayed by the incoming congress,” he added.
It’s Not As Bad As It Seems – CRA
But Elder Emmanuel Kusat of the Deeper Life Church, Kaduna, also a journalist and Founder, Christian Right Agenda (CRA), told TruthNigeria that there was no cause for undue pessimism.
“First, it is important to understand that the designation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) is not an ordinary political declaration,” he said.
He said that it is a statutory foreign policy instrument established under the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998.
Kusat added that a Democrat majority in the new Congress cannot just reverse it without following due process.
“The designation is made by the President, through delegated authority exercised by the Secretary of State, and is not automatically subject to reversal whenever political control of Congress changes,” he added
He added that under US law, Nigeria retains its designation until the President determines otherwise and reports to the appropriate congressional committees.
Some Democrats Will Support Trump
A Catholic priest in the office of Archbishop of Kaduna Archdiocese, who spoke to TruthNigeria on Sunday, November 8, 2026, but does not want his name mentioned, also agreed without Kusat position.
“I don’t believe that all the Democrats in the incoming congress would be hostile to Trump’s attempts to protect Nigeria Christians and religious freedom,” he said.
“Some Democratic lawmakers may favour a broader human rights framework that considers attacks against Christians, Muslims and other vulnerable populations without giving particular emphasis to the Christians of Northern Nigeria.
“It all depends on how the Nigerian violence by these terrorists is presented and addressed in the new Congress,” he added.
“A Democratic-controlled Congress could challenge Trump’s approach to the Nigerian situation and even question the evidence supporting why the Republicans have shown such interest in the Middle Belt.
“That is why it is time to get ready with all the evidence and other materials that we have and strategise on how to present and defend them before the new Congress when the time comes.
“So, it would be premature to assume that Democrats will seek Nigeria’s removal automatically.
“My belief is that religious freedom enjoys bipartisan support in the United States. I am sure that there are Democratic lawmakers who have consistently condemned religious persecution worldwide,” he added
Luka Binniyat writes for TruthNigeria from Kaduna.
