By Ade Iyamoye
The President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), Archbishop Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji, has urged the National Assembly to review its position on electoral reform and ensure that the will of Nigerians is respected in future elections.
Delivering his address at the opening session of the 2026 First Plenary Meeting of the CBCN at the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria Resource Centre, Durumi, Abuja, Archbishop Ugorji said the steady decline in voter turnout over the years reflects a growing lack of confidence in the electoral process.
He noted that turnout dropped from 69 per cent in 2003 to 23 per cent in 2023, warning that if the trend continues, it could deal a “disastrous blow” to democracy in Nigeria.
“To save democracy in the country, the National Assembly should review its recent stand on the Electoral Reform and try to revive the confidence of Nigerians,” he said.
The Archbishop called for the Electoral Act to provide for mandatory real-time transmission of election results from the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), at polling units directly to the INEC Result Viewing (IReV), portal at the Commission’s headquarters to prevent human tampering.
“This is the will of the people and has to be respected. It will promote free, fair and credible general elections in our nation,” he stressed.
He cautioned lawmakers against passing a watered-down version of electoral reforms that could create room for manipulation, reminding them that the same Assembly had approved digital processes under the 2025 Tax Act.
“The honourable members of the National Assembly should not allow themselves to be perceived as expressing inconsistent positions in the process of passing bills. The world is watching. Above all, God is also watching,” he added.
Archbishop Ugorji spoke against the backdrop of broader national concerns, including worsening insecurity, illegal mining, and economic hardship.
He decried rising cases of kidnapping and mass killings across parts of the country, urging government to move beyond reactive measures and invest in modern surveillance technology and intelligence gathering.
He also described illegal mining as economic sabotage, alleging that proceeds from illicit mineral exploitation are being used to fund criminal activities and terrorism.
On leadership, the CBCN President said Nigeria’s challenges are rooted largely in poor governance and a distorted understanding of politics as a means of personal enrichment rather than service to the common good.
“Political leadership exists for the common good. It presupposes respect for the dignity and rights of each individual and access to what is needed to lead a truly human life,” he said.
Archbishop Ugorji further announced that he would step down as CBCN President at the end of the plenary session, thanking members for their cooperation and support during his tenure.
The plenary session drew religious leaders, including the Apostolic Nuncio to Nigeria, Most Rev. Michael Francis Crotty, as well as civil authorities and representatives of other Christian bodies.
In his remarks at the plenary, the Apostolic Nuncio to Nigeria, Michael F. Crotty, underscored the unity of the Church under the Successor of Peter and urged the bishops to remain steadfast in communion with the Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV.
The Nuncio commended the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria for its recent statement on insecurity and for choosing “The Common Good and Leadership in Nigeria” as the theme of the plenary.
He stressed that peace and the rebuilding of “our common life” require shared responsibility, justice, dialogue and mutual respect across religious and ethnic lines.
According to him, leadership must serve the common good at every level of society, fostering harmony, justice and hope for all Nigerians.
In his address titled “The Power of Leadership and Upscaling of the Common Good in Nigerian Spiritual and Public Spaces,” Dr. Mike Omeri Agbo urged spiritual and public leaders to embrace courageous, purpose-driven and servant leadership rooted in character, justice and compassion.
He stressed that true leadership is about service, not the pursuit of power, and must prioritize the common good above personal interest.
Omeri questioned whether Nigeria’s current leadership has truly advanced the common good, calling for leaders who can bridge inequality and inspire hope.
He expressed optimism that the nation can still produce selfless leaders committed to integrity and collective progress.
