People’s voice must prevail – Catholic bishops
Catholic bishops in Nigeria have urged the Independent National Electoral Commission, political parties and candidates to protect the integrity of the 2027 general elections and ensure that voters’ choices are respected.
The bishops also commended voters in Osun State for their resilience during the recent governorship election, describing active participation in the electoral process as essential to strengthening democracy.
The call was made during the second 2026 Plenary Meeting of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria at St Benedict Cathedral, Osogbo.
President of the CBCN and Catholic Archbishop of Kaduna, Most Rev Matthew Man-Oso Ndagoso, said all stakeholders must provide a level playing field for every candidate and political party ahead of the 2027 polls.
Ndagoso urged INEC to build on lessons from the Osun election by improving its processes and ensuring that the next general elections are free, fair, transparent and credible.
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According to him, Nigeria has the resources and capacity to conduct credible elections, but political will remains critical to achieving that goal.
The archbishop also called on the government to address hunger, poverty and insecurity, stressing that these challenges have weakened public confidence in the country’s leadership.
He warned that continued distrust in the electoral process could discourage citizens from voting. Ndagoso therefore urged INEC to make Permanent Voter Cards easily accessible and remove unnecessary barriers that could prevent eligible Nigerians from participating.
He said anything short of a credible 2027 election would amount to a disservice to Nigerians and the country’s democratic future.
The bishop also appealed to voters not to sell their votes, while urging young Nigerians to reject political thuggery and violence.
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Similarly, Bishop John Oyejola called on political leaders to focus on improving the living conditions of Nigerians rather than undermining the electoral process.
Oyejola warned against manipulating voters’ choices through vote-buying and other forms of electoral malpractice. He stressed that Nigerians must protect their political rights and resist attempts to exchange their long-term interests for temporary financial gains.
The Apostolic Nuncio to Nigeria, Most Rev Michael Francis Crotty, also encouraged citizens to participate actively in the democratic process and ensure their votes count.
Source: Vanguard News
Content Credit: Adeyemi Esther
Image Credit: Facebook.com
