The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria has urged Nigerians to reject vote-buying and vote-selling ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The CBCN President, Most Rev. Matthew Ndagoso, made the call on Sunday in Osogbo, Osun State, while addressing the opening session of the conference’s second plenary meeting hosted by the Osogbo Catholic Diocese.
Ndagoso, who is also the Archbishop of the Kaduna Catholic Archdiocese, expressed concern over growing public dissatisfaction and fears that the electoral process could be manipulated, leaving voters uncertain about whether their votes would count.
He called on the Independent National Electoral Commission to take steps to guarantee free, fair, transparent and credible elections in 2027, warning that a lack of confidence could discourage citizens from participating.
The cleric also urged authorities to make voter registration and access to Permanent Voter Cards easier for eligible Nigerians, saying this would help ensure that election results reflect the genuine choice of voters.
Ndagoso commended INEC for the conduct of the recent Osun State off-cycle election, describing it as a source of renewed hope ahead of the 2027 elections.
He appealed to Catholic faithful and Nigerians generally to participate actively in politics while rejecting vote-buying, vote-selling, political favouritism and apathy.
Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, represented by his deputy, Kola Adewusi, acknowledged the Catholic Church’s contributions to education, healthcare, human development and peace-building.
Adewusi also called on the church to intensify prayers for peaceful and successful 2027 elections, stressing that electoral peace would require both responsible civic participation and spiritual support.
