Catholic Bishops Warn Political Leaders Against Manipulation of 2027 General Poll
*Say Illegal mining worsening insecurity, congratulate Adeleke over re-election
*Fayemi urges Nigerians to opt competence over ethnicity, religion in next election
Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo and Gbenga Sodeinde in Ekiti
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), has warned political leaders against manipulating the 2027 general election, calling for free, fair and credible polls capable of restoring the confidence of Nigerians in the democratic process.
The Bishops also urged eligible voters to reject vote-buying and selling, resist political cronyism and refuse to allow themselves to be used as political thugs by desperate politicians during the forthcoming elections.
This was as a former Ekiti State governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has urged Nigerians to make competence, integrity and commitment to the common good the basis of their choices in the 2027 general election.
President of the CBCN and Archbishop of Kaduna, Most Rev. Matthew Man-Oso Ndagoso, gave the warning at the opening session of the Second Plenary Meeting of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria at Our Lady and St. Kizito’s Pastoral Centre, Oke-Gada, Ede, Osun State.
The plenary, which started on September 10 to end on the 18, brought together Catholic bishops, the Apostolic Nuncio to Nigeria, clergy, consecrated men and women, lay faithful and other Church leaders to deliberate on issues affecting the Church and the Nigerian society.
Archbishop Ndagoso, while addressing the gathering, said the 2027 general election presented another opportunity for Nigeria to strengthen its democracy and restore public confidence in the electoral process.
He described politics as a noble profession when practised in the service of the common good, urging elected and appointed public officials to ensure that the electoral environment remained fair and inclusive.
He said political office holders, including the President, governors, National Assembly members, ministers and local government chairmen, had a responsibility to ensure that the rules of the democratic process were respected by all.
According to him, conducting credible elections was within the capacity of Nigerians and should not be treated as an impossible task.
“Politics is a noble profession at the service of the common good and should be treated as such,” he said.
The CBCN President said Nigerians were only a few months away from the 2027 general election, noting that political campaigns had already commenced across the country.
He observed that political activities would soon take over stadia, event centres, school fields, hotels and other public spaces as politicians intensified their efforts to secure votes.
At the opening of the plenary, Archbishop Ndagoso welcomed Governor Ademola Adeleke and other government officials to the gathering.
He congratulated Adeleke on his re-election as Osun State Governor and commended the other contestants in the governorship election.
The CBCN President urged all political actors in the state to unite after the election and focus on delivering the dividends of democracy to the people.
Fayemi Appeals to Nigerians to Choose Competence over Ethnicity, Religion in 2027
A former Ekiti State governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has urged Nigerians to make competence, integrity and commitment to the common good the basis of their choices in the 2027 general election.
He warned that politics was too important to be left in the hands of people without moral values and genuine commitment to service.
Fayemi, who was also Minister of Mines and Steel Development, said Nigerians must move beyond ethnicity, religion, personal interests and political sentiments in selecting leaders.
He stressed that the future of the country depended on citizens who were willing to participate actively in politics and demand accountable leadership.
The former governor spoke on Saturday while delivering a lecture titled: “Faith in Action: Empowering the Catholic Laity for Active Political Participation Ahead of the 2027 General Election,” at the September 2026 Plenary of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) held in Ede, Osun State.
He expressed concern over the growing distrust in Nigeria’s democratic institutions, attributing it to corruption, electoral violence, vote-buying, misinformation and the disconnect between political leadership and the everyday challenges facing citizens.
According to him, the solution was not for responsible citizens to withdraw from politics, but to engage actively and ensure that governance was driven by justice, accountability and service.
Fayemi said the 2027 elections provide Nigerians with another opportunity to strengthen democracy by electing leaders capable of addressing critical national challenges, including poverty, unemployment, insecurity, education and healthcare.
He warned that allowing ethnicity, religion or financial inducements to determine electoral choices would continue to weaken the country’s democratic development.
“The fundamental question must be which candidate and which policies are most capable of advancing human dignity, justice, peace, security, development and the common good,” Fayemi said.
He urged Nigerians, especially Christians, to participate fully in the electoral process by obtaining their voter cards, understanding candidates’ programmes, monitoring elections, resisting malpractice and holding elected officials accountable.
