Catholic Bishops Declare December 8, 2026, Day Of Fasting, Prayers Over Successes Of 2027 General Elections
The Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, CBCN, has declared December 8, 2026 as a day of prayers and fasting for the successes of the 2027 general elections.
The Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, CBCN, has declared December 8, 2026 as a day of prayers and fasting for the successes of the 2027 general elections.
This was contained in a communique signed by the President, Archbishop Matthew Man-Oso Ndagoso of the Kaduna Archdiocese and Secretary, Bishop Peter Olukayode Odetoyinbo of the Abeokuta Diocese, at the end of the second plenary meeting of the CBCN held at Our Lady and St. Kizito Pastoral Centre Oke-Gada, Ede, Osogbo Diocese in Osun State. The plenary was held from September 10 to 18, 2026.
This was contained in a communique signed by the President, Archbishop Matthew Man-Oso Ndagoso of the Kaduna Archdiocese and Secretary, Bishop Peter Olukayode Odetoyinbo of the Abeokuta Diocese, at the end of the second plenary meeting of the CBCN held at Our Lady and St. Kizito Pastoral Centre Oke-Gada, Ede, Osogbo Diocese in Osun State. The plenary was held from September 10 to 18, 2026.
The CBCN urged all dioceses and Catholic parishes in the country to embark on civic education by mobilizing the faithful to pray for credible elections in 2027.
Furthermore, the bishops urged all stakeholders to work for free, fair and credible elections, just as they asked “eligible voters to come out en mass to to vote qualified people into offices and in line with their good consciences.”
Furthermore, the bishops urged all stakeholders to work for free, fair and credible elections, just as they asked “eligible voters to come out en mass to to vote qualified people into offices and in line with their good consciences.”
The communique read in part, "We observe that incidents of widespread violence, kidnapping, banditry, illegal mining and stealing of our common natural resources persist.
“All these rob citizens of peace and threaten the unity of the nation.
“In a special way, we demand Government to do all that is necessary to stop banditry and recover the vast portions of land used for this criminal activity and ensure a productive and beneficial use of the land.
“In a special way, we demand Government to do all that is necessary to stop banditry and recover the vast portions of land used for this criminal activity and ensure a productive and beneficial use of the land.
“More so, the massive displacement of communities in some parts of our nation has taken a toll on the social, economic and political lives of our people, with millions of people in IDP (Internally Displaced Persons) camps across the country.
“We enjoin Government to intensify efforts and impactful actions to enable the displaced persons return to their ancestral homes.
“We equally urge government at all levels to ensure that all people including migrants and refugees are treated with respect and human dignity with their basic rights and needs guaranteed and respected.
“While we pray for the repose of those who have been killed, we encourage Government to strengthen security forces, deploy better intelligence, and hold wrongdoers accountable.
“We ask our people to report suspicious activities, cooperate with security agencies, and reject ethnic or religious divisions.
“We enjoin Government to intensify efforts and impactful actions to enable the displaced persons return to their ancestral homes.
“We equally urge government at all levels to ensure that all people including migrants and refugees are treated with respect and human dignity with their basic rights and needs guaranteed and respected.
“While we pray for the repose of those who have been killed, we encourage Government to strengthen security forces, deploy better intelligence, and hold wrongdoers accountable.
“We ask our people to report suspicious activities, cooperate with security agencies, and reject ethnic or religious divisions.
“We demand that government at all levels create more job opportunities, provide enabling environment for growth, support local businesses, and manage economic policies that ease the financial burden on the poor.
“Concerted efforts, therefore, must be made by the federal and state governments to drastically reduce poverty, pain and suffering of our people.
“Still more, Government should work to provide enabling policies for private sector participation.
“At the same time, we encourage our citizens to practise honest labour, support local enterprises, and avoid criminality and corrupt practices.
“Concerted efforts, therefore, must be made by the federal and state governments to drastically reduce poverty, pain and suffering of our people.
“Still more, Government should work to provide enabling policies for private sector participation.
“At the same time, we encourage our citizens to practise honest labour, support local enterprises, and avoid criminality and corrupt practices.
“We charge Government to transparently invest more funds in public amenities, repair vital roads, and ensure steady electricity and clean water.
“We particularly demand that railway transport facilities be provided throughout the nation to enhance socio-economic life of our people.
“We also ask our people to protect public property from vandalism and report corrupt practices about infrastructural projects."
“We particularly demand that railway transport facilities be provided throughout the nation to enhance socio-economic life of our people.
“We also ask our people to protect public property from vandalism and report corrupt practices about infrastructural projects."
The CBCN then urged citizens to study the pastoral letter it issued regarding the forthcoming general elections and follow the provisions and guidelines.
The bishops, furthermore, challenged the Federal Government to address insecurity, poverty and decay in infrastructure in the country, even as they recognized the move by government to decentralise the police system to tackle insecurity, adding that such reorganisation should be deployed for the common good rather than for personal, ethnic, political and religious interests.
The CBCN stressed that the invasion of schools and places of worship and abduction or even killing of students and worshippers still go on, pointing out that
poverty was now being used as an instrument of control in Nigeria, even as hardship and lack of basic needs leave many families struggling to survive despite the national wealth.
On infrastructure, the bishops said bad roads, erratic power supply, and failing public utilities slow down economic growth and daily life, re-stating its position on the Foreign AIDS, (Regulation, Transparency And Disclosure) Bill, Christian Education, Human Dignity, among other issues.
The bishops, furthermore, challenged the Federal Government to address insecurity, poverty and decay in infrastructure in the country, even as they recognized the move by government to decentralise the police system to tackle insecurity, adding that such reorganisation should be deployed for the common good rather than for personal, ethnic, political and religious interests.
The CBCN stressed that the invasion of schools and places of worship and abduction or even killing of students and worshippers still go on, pointing out that
poverty was now being used as an instrument of control in Nigeria, even as hardship and lack of basic needs leave many families struggling to survive despite the national wealth.
On infrastructure, the bishops said bad roads, erratic power supply, and failing public utilities slow down economic growth and daily life, re-stating its position on the Foreign AIDS, (Regulation, Transparency And Disclosure) Bill, Christian Education, Human Dignity, among other issues.
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