The United States government under President Donald Trump intends to keep a watchful eye on the upcoming 2027 general elections in Nigeria, signaling that the entire process will face intense scrutiny from Washington officials.
US Congressman Riley Moore, a Republican from West Virginia, shared this update during an interview with NoireTV on Sunday when asked if America would step up its support for credible voting processes in Nigeria.
“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.
Beyond the ballot box, Moore noted that the US House of Representatives is pushing forward with an appropriations bill that directly ties American security aid to Nigeria’s handling of religious freedom. He pointed out that this legislative effort is moving fast.
“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 stated.
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According to the lawmaker, the incoming rules hold serious weight for future diplomatic ties.
“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 added.
Moore, who co-sponsored the Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026 with Congressman Chris Smith back in February, emphasized that the issue remains a priority for the White House. He mentioned that he plans to raise these concerns directly with the president.
“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 said.
The proposed Smith-Moore legislation mandates that the US Secretary of State routinely brief Congress on efforts to curb religious persecution and mass violence in Nigeria.
It also demands regular reviews of Nigeria’s human rights track record, foreign aid distribution, targeted sanctions, and the government’s progress in protecting vulnerable communities and prosecuting attackers.
This push aligns with broader moves in Washington. Earlier this year, the US House Appropriations Committee approved a State Department funding bill that introduces strict conditions on financial support for Nigeria.
Under those terms, half of the designated US foreign aid for Nigeria will be paused until the State Department certifies that the Nigerian government is actively curbing religious violence.
The bill explicitly states that funds must be used to investigate and prosecute violence linked to Fulani militia groups, while also requiring Nigeria to ensure the safe relocation of internally displaced citizens before the full aid package can be unlocked.
