ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- The United States says it will closely monitor Nigeria’s 2027 general elections, with Congressman Riley Moore revealing that President Donald Trump’s administration will pay keen attention to how the electoral process is conducted.
Moore, a Republican lawmaker representing West Virginia, made the disclosure during an interview with NoireTV, where he responded to questions on Nigeria’s next general election.
Speaking on the credibility of the forthcoming polls, the congressman said the conduct and outcome of the elections would remain under close scrutiny by both himself and the US administration.
“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 said.
The lawmaker also disclosed that the United States House of Representatives was considering an appropriations bill containing provisions affecting Nigeria, particularly on issues relating to religious freedom and American security assistance.
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According to him, the proposed legislation incorporates strong provisions that could shape future relations between both countries.
“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.”
Moore said the bill contains what he described as “pretty strong and aggressive language” concerning Nigeria’s relationship with the United States.
“There’s a lot of language that I put on that bill that’s inside of it that relates to Nigeria and the persecution of Christians and restrictions on security assistance to the government of Nigeria, and steps that they have to take.
“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 to Nigeria moving forward.”
He further revealed that discussions on Nigeria remain a priority in his engagements with President Trump, adding that he was scheduled to meet the US President later that day.
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“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.”
Moore is a co-sponsor of the Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026, introduced alongside Congressman Chris Smith in February.
The proposed legislation seeks to compel the US Secretary of State to submit periodic reports to Congress detailing efforts to address religious persecution and mass atrocities in Nigeria.
It also proposes regular assessments of Nigeria’s compliance with international religious freedom obligations, US security assistance, sanctions, humanitarian interventions and measures taken by the Nigerian government to protect vulnerable communities and prosecute perpetrators of violent attacks.
Earlier in April 2026, the US House Appropriations Committee approved provisions in its annual State Department funding bill introducing stricter oversight of financial assistance to Nigeria.
The bill, which has been forwarded to Congress for consideration, provides that 50 per cent of funds earmarked for Nigeria under foreign assistance programmes will be withheld until the US certifies that the Nigerian government is taking effective steps to curb religious violence.
It further requires that part of the assistance should support investigations and prosecution of violence allegedly committed by Fulani militia groups, while also mandating the Nigerian government to facilitate the safe return of displaced persons before the withheld funds can be released.