The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) has called on dioceses and parishes across the country to commence civic education, voter mobilisation, fasting and prayers ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The bishops made the call in a communiqué signed by the President of the CBCN, Archbishop Matthew Man-Oso Ndagoso of Kaduna, and the Secretary, Bishop Peter Olukayode Odetoyinbo of Abeokuta Diocese, and issued at the end of their Second Plenary Meeting for 2026, held from September 10 to 18 at the Our Lady and St. Kizito Pastoral Centre, Oke-Gada, Ede, Osogbo Diocese, Osun State.
The bishops specifically directed dioceses and parishes to organise end-of-month fasting and prayer, alongside Rosary processions, from October to December 2026 as part of preparations for the elections.
They also declared December 8, 2026, as a special national day of prayer and fasting for the success of the 2027 general elections. The CBCN urged all stakeholders to work towards ensuring that the elections are free, fair and credible.
It encouraged eligible Nigerians to come out in large numbers to vote for candidates they consider qualified, while exercising their choices according to their consciences.
The bishops also asked citizens to study and follow the provisions and guidelines contained in the pastoral letter issued by the Conference on the forthcoming elections.
Beyond the electoral process, the bishops called for civic education and mobilisation as part of efforts to promote responsible participation in the 2027 elections.
The Conference also called for a renewed approach to politics, urging political actors and citizens to focus on moral principles, the promotion of human life and dignity, and the pursuit of the common good.
The bishops said Nigeria continued to face challenges in achieving national integration but maintained that positive change remained possible through individual and collective efforts.
They further said they would continue to pray for people holding political offices, citing the biblical recommendation of St. Paul to pray for those in authority.
On the broader state of the nation, the bishops expressed concern over insecurity, poverty, poor infrastructure, bad governance and what they described as assaults on human dignity.
They called for stronger security measures, better intelligence gathering and accountability for those responsible for criminal activities, while urging citizens to cooperate with security agencies and reject ethnic and religious divisions.
The bishops also urged governments at all levels to create jobs, support local businesses and implement economic policies capable of reducing the financial burden on poor Nigerians.
They called for greater investment in roads, electricity, water and railway infrastructure as part of measures to improve socio-economic conditions across the country.