Ahead of the 2027 general elections in Nigeria, Catholic Bishops, under the aegis of Lagos Ecclesiastical Province, have called for urgent steps to strengthen the nation’s electoral system.
This call was contained in a communique issued by the Bishops at the end of their first meeting of the year which held at St. Agnes Catholic Church, Maryland, Lagos on Thursday, 5 February 2026.
On the need to strengthen electoral reforms in the country, the religious leaders observed that “With national elections less than a year away, urgent action is needed to strengthen our electoral system. We are all witnesses to the grave irregularities that marred the 2023 elections—an event that severely tested our democracy. As we prepare to return to the polls, we must decisively curb the loopholes that enable electoral fraud.”
They emphasised that “To ensure a credible and transparent process in 2027, we specifically call on the Senate to heed the demands of Nigerians and swiftly pass legislation mandating the real-time electronic transmission of election results. This critical reform is essential to restoring public trust and safeguarding the integrity of our democracy. We equally call on all eligible Nigerians to be actively involved in the electoral process and ensure that they elect only credible leaders who will help them achieve their dreams and aspirations for a better life.
“We implore all Catholics and people of good faith to intensify prayers for our nation. Let us pray for the conversion of hearts bent on evil, for the comfort of the bereaved, for the release of all captives, and for the wisdom and courage of our leaders.”
Gratitude, Thanksgiving for Ecclesial Growth
At the meeting which was attended by the leadership and representatives of the clergy, the consecrated people and the various lay organisations who submitted reports of their activities for the previous year under review, the clerics expressed gratitude to God for the New Year.
“We begin by wishing all Nigerians a grace-filled and prosperous New Year, 2026. We give thanks to Almighty God, the source of all life, for the priceless gift of this new year, a time of renewed hope and opportunity for our nation. We implore His divine guidance and blessings upon our country and its people” the statement read.
They also used the opportunity to thank God for the ecclesial growth achieved, stressing, “With joyful hearts, we thank God for the visible growth and vitality of the Church in the Lagos Province. We witness inspiring developments in faith formation, pastoral outreach, and communal life. This growth is a testament to the living presence of the Holy Spirit among us.”
In part, the statement commended the people of God especially “our dedicated Clergy, Consecrated Religious, and the Lay Faithful of the province for their unwavering commitment to the work of evangelization, charity, and building vibrant Christian communities.”
The Church Fathers extended the appreciation to “all the lay organization and societies of the province for being worthy collaborators in the vineyard. Your sacrifices, zeal, and prayers are the bedrock of our ecclesial family. We encourage you to persevere in your witness to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, especially in works of justice, peace, and solidarity with the suffering.”
On the Special Year of St. Francis, they acknowledged “the steadfast leadership of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV since his elevation to the See of Peter” stressing that “We welcome and support his proclamation of a Special Year dedicated to St. Francis of Assisi. In light of this proclamation, we strongly urge the faithful to seize this grace-filled period for spiritual renewal.”
Conclusion
The Bishops encouraged everyone “to participate earnestly in the devotional and charitable acts prescribed, and to avail themselves of the indulgences granted, thereby drawing more fully upon the merciful grace of God.”
The prelates placed the nation under the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Queen of Peace, and the Holy Martyrs of Nigeria while calling for actionable steps to salvage the nation amid poverty and insecurity.
“In this time of trial, we call on all Nigerians not to succumb to despair or the temptation of hatred. We reiterate our call for comprehensive socio-economic reforms to rescue our people from poverty. We urge our security agencies to rededicate themselves to their constitutional mandate with professionalism and respect for human rights,” they underlined.
This is what is expected of our religious leaders across all denominations. Very interesting story.