Catholic Bishops to INEC, Politicians: Allow Will of Voters to Prevail in 2027
…Laud Osun Voters’ Resilience, Warn Against Vote-Buying, Violence and Manipulation…
Catholic bishops in Nigeria have called on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, political parties and candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections to allow the will of voters to prevail and desist from manipulating electoral processes.
The call was made on Sunday during the Opening Mass of the 2nd 2026 Plenary Meeting of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria, CBCN, hosted by the Catholic Diocese of Osogbo at St. Benedict Cathedral, Osogbo.
The Mass was attended by Catholic Church leaders across Nigeria, government officials, traditional rulers and other dignitaries.
In his homily, the Catholic Bishop of Osogbo Diocese, Most Rev. John Oyejola, appealed to political leaders to turn a new leaf and deliver good governance, questioning why citizens continue to starve in the midst of plenty.”
He urged all political actors to shun violence and ensure a level playing field ahead of 2027 election, warning that “power acquired through bloodshed, fraud, manipulation, or intimidation becomes a curse upon the soul.”
“If you subvert the will of the people, you may deceive institutions, you may intimidate communities, you may manipulate processes, but you cannot deceive the Almighty God,” Bishop Oyejola said.
“Please turn away from wickedness. Today is another day for us to change.” He also warned Nigerians against vote-buying, stating that “a society cannot rise when its people trade their destiny for temporary gains.”
The bishop commended the resilience of the people of Osun state during the recently held governorship election and urged voters to come out en masse in 2027 to vote and ensure that their votes are counted.
Also speaking, the CBCN President and Catholic Archbishop of Kaduna, Most Rev. Matthew Man-Oso Ndagoso, called on the President, Governors, National Assembly members, Ministers, and Local Government Chairmen to ensure a genuine level playing field and that electoral rules are respected by all.
He specifically charged INEC to perform better than it did during the Osun governorship poll and deliver transparent, free, fair and credible elections in 2027.
“Conducting credible elections is within our power,” Archbishop Ndagoso said. We have the resources. The challenge is the lack of political will to ensure a better life for all citizens.
He noted that despite flawed and violent elections, Nigerians have remained committed to democracy and have not called for a return to military rule.
“There is an increasing feeling of disenchantment over fears of possible manipulation of the electoral processes. This distrust can lower voter turnout,” he added.
The CBCN President urged INEC to ensure voters’ cards are easily available and to deliver results that “reflect the true choice of the people,” warning that “anything short of transparent, free, fair and credible elections in 2027 would be a serious disservice to our country.”
He also called on youths to resist being used for thuggery and urged the electorate not to sell their votes.
The Apostolic Nuncio to Nigeria, Most Rev. Michael Francis Crotty, in remarks to journalists, urged Nigerians not to succumb to voter apathy.
“The most important part is for citizens to be engaged in the democratic process, to make their votes count and to build up the future of Nigerian society,” he said.
The bishops said their message was aimed at safeguarding democracy and ensuring that 2027 reflects the genuine aspirations of Nigerians.