The United States government under President Donald Trump will closely monitor Nigeria’s 2027 general elections, US Congressman Riley Moore has declared.
Moore, a Republican lawmaker representing West Virginia, said Washington would be paying “very close attention” to how the elections are conducted and the outcome that emerges from the polls.
Speaking during an interview with NoireTV, the congressman said the Trump administration considers developments in Nigeria important and would closely follow the electoral process.
“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.”
The lawmaker also revealed that the US House of Representatives is considering a major appropriations bill containing tough provisions relating to Nigeria, particularly on religious freedom and American 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,” Moore said.
According to him, the proposed legislation contains “pretty strong and aggressive language” that could shape future US relations with Nigeria.
“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.”
Moore further disclosed that he would continue engaging President Donald Trump on Nigeria-related matters, adding that he was scheduled to meet the US leader.
“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.”
The congressman is a co-sponsor of the Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026 alongside Congressman Chris Smith.
The proposed legislation seeks to compel the US Secretary of State to regularly brief Congress on religious persecution and mass atrocities in Nigeria.
The bill also proposes stricter assessments of Nigeria’s compliance with international religious freedom obligations, US security assistance, sanctions, humanitarian support, and efforts by the Nigerian government to protect vulnerable communities and prosecute perpetrators of violent attacks.
In April 2026, the US House Appropriations Committee reportedly passed provisions in its annual State Department funding bill seeking tighter oversight of financial assistance to Nigeria.
The bill proposes withholding 50 per cent of US foreign assistance allocated to Nigeria until the American government certifies that effective steps are being taken to tackle religious violence.
It also demands support for investigations and prosecutions linked to attacks by Fulani militia groups, while insisting on measures that would ensure the safe return of displaced persons.
