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Urgent Call for Electoral Reform by Nigerian Catholic Bishops
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) has appealed to the National Assembly to promptly revisit and strengthen electoral reforms, emphasizing the necessity of enforcing real-time transmission of election outcomes. This appeal was voiced by Archbishop Lucius Ugorji of Owerri, who is also the outgoing president of the CBCN, during the inaugural plenary session for 2026 held at the Catholic Secretariat in Abuja. The session’s theme, “The Common Good and Leadership in Nigeria,” provided a platform for Ugorji to highlight the alarming decline in voter engagement across the nation.
Declining Voter Turnout: A Threat to Democratic Legitimacy
Archbishop Ugorji drew attention to the steep drop in voter participation, which has plummeted from 69% in 2003 to a record low of 23% in the 2023 elections. He remarked, “This significant decrease reflects a growing distrust among citizens towards the electoral system and raises serious questions about the legitimacy of elected representatives who claim mandates from a shrinking segment of the populace.” This trend, he warned, undermines the foundation of Nigeria’s democracy.
Mandating Real-Time Result Transmission to Restore Confidence
To counteract this troubling trend, the Archbishop urged legislators to amend the Electoral Act to explicitly require the immediate transmission of results from the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) at polling stations directly to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s Result Viewing (IReV) portal. He emphasized that such a measure is critical to safeguarding the integrity of election outcomes by eliminating opportunities for human interference with voters’ choices.
Legislative Inconsistencies and the Need for Transparency
Ugorji also criticized what he perceives as contradictory legislative priorities. While he acknowledged the recent enactment of the 2025 Tax Act, which mandates digital filing and record-keeping to enhance transparency, he expressed concern that similar digital accountability is being overlooked in the electoral process. “Members of the National Assembly must avoid the appearance of double standards. The global community is observing, and more importantly, divine judgment awaits,” he cautioned.
Addressing Broader National Challenges: Security and Economic Losses
Beyond electoral reforms, the Archbishop voiced deep concern over escalating insecurity in Nigeria. He described recent violent incidents, including mass killings in regions such as Kwara State, as “tragic and senseless.” Additionally, he highlighted the severe economic consequences of illegal mining activities, which reportedly drain Nigeria’s economy of approximately nine billion dollars annually, exacerbating poverty and instability.
Promoting Servant Leadership for National Unity and Progress
At the same event, Mike Omeri, former Director-General of the National Orientation Agency and chairman of the meeting, urged political leaders to embrace the principles of servant leadership. He argued that this approach is essential to bridging the widening socio-economic divide and fostering the common good. Omeri’s call aligns with global leadership trends that prioritize empathy, accountability, and inclusive governance as pathways to sustainable development.
