…Participate in Politics, Governance

By Samson Adeyanju 

Catholic leaders and government officials have urged the faithful to actively apply the principles of Catholic Social Teaching (CST), in national development through participation in politics, governance, and public life.

The call was made during the flag off of the 2026 Laity Week celebrations organised by the Catholic Laity Council of Nigeria at the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria in Abuja.

In his homily at the opening Mass, the Deputy Secretary General of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, Very Rev. Fr Augustine Okochi, said the theme of the celebration, “Application of Catholic Social Teaching in Contemporary Nigeria,” was both timely and prophetic given the country’s social and economic challenges.

He stressed that the mission of transforming society rests largely on the shoulders of the laity, who are called to bring the values of the Gospel into politics, governance, education, commerce, media and other sectors of national life.

“The real field of lay apostolate is the world itself,” Fr Okochi said, noting that offices where policies are made, markets where economic decisions are taken and public spaces where national issues are debated are all arenas of Christian mission.

According to him, Catholic Social Teaching provides a moral framework rooted in the dignity of the human person, the common good, solidarity, subsidiarity, care for the poor and respect for the dignity of work.

He added that faith must move beyond prayer and worship to inspire justice, peace and concrete action in society.

“Catholics are called to see politics as a noble service to the common good. Nigeria will change when Catholics embrace governance as part of their Christian vocation to transform society,” he said.

Also speaking, Nigeria’s Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Sen. George Akume, Represented by the Permanent Secretary, Cabinent Affairs Office of the SGF, Dr Ezeamama Chidiebere described Catholic Social Teaching as one of the most enduring moral frameworks for building a just and humane society.

Akume noted that the teachings of the Church emphasise the dignity of the human person, justice, solidarity and the common good, stressing that faith must find expression in the social, economic and political life of the nation.

“At a time when our nation faces economic pressures, social inequalities and challenges of justice and peace, the principles embodied in Catholic Social Teaching offer a powerful moral compass capable of guiding individuals and institutions,” he said.

He said the Catholic laity occupy a strategic position in nation building as professionals, entrepreneurs, educators, and public servants who carry the values of faith into the structures that shape national life.

The SGF therefore urged participants to use the Laity Week to reflect deeply and recommit themselves to promoting justice, unity and responsible citizenship.

Earlier in his welcome address, the National President of the Catholic Laity Council of Nigeria, Sir Ambrose Obioha, said the annual celebration provides an opportunity for lay Catholics to reflect on their mission both in the Church and in society.

He noted that the theme calls on Catholics to move beyond words and translate faith into action in addressing national challenges such as insecurity, poverty, injustice and governance concerns.

“Our vocation as laity extends far beyond the walls of our churches. We are called to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world, ambassadors of peace, defenders of justice and agents of transformation,” he said.

Chairman of the occasion, Dr Sir Ambrose Ojiako, represented by Chief Sir Obiora Okonkwo, also urged Catholics not to shy away from politics but to participate actively in democratic processes in order to influence policies and improve the welfare of citizens.

He said the application of Catholic Social Teaching requires Catholics to take responsibility in public leadership and governance rather than leaving the political space to individuals who may not share sound moral values.

The speakers expressed hope that the week long celebration would deepen understanding of Catholic Social Teaching and inspire Catholics across the country to contribute more actively to building a just, peaceful and prosperous Nigeria.

By Salihu Mohammed

Kogi-born political activist Usman Austin Okai has called on prominent Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders to defect to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) immediately to safeguard their 2027 political ambitions.

The demand follows a March 9, 2026, Court of Appeal ruling that upheld a lower court’s decision to void the PDP’s disputed Ibadan convention. Okai warns that the party’s deepening legal woes have turned it into a “lost cause” that could jeopardize the eligibility of its future candidates.

High-Profile Targets for Defection
Okai specifically urged the following figures and groups to migrate to the ADC before the commencement of ward congresses:

Seyi Makinde: Governor of Oyo State.

Bala Mohammed: Governor of Bauchi State.

The Turaki Faction: A significant power bloc within the main opposition party.

The Legal Red Flags
The activist pointed out that the appellate court’s confirmation of the Federal High Court order signals a likely defeat at the Supreme Court. He argued that if the apex court eventually nullifies the convention after primaries have been conducted, every candidate produced by the PDP would face automatic disqualification.

A New Opposition Front
Describing the current PDP as an unintentional ally to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Okai positioned the ADC as the only viable platform for a formidable opposition.

He encouraged grassroots supporters and the Turaki faction to integrate into the ADC’s upcoming direct primaries, suggesting that a unified move to the party is the only way to build a credible challenge against the APC in the 2027 general elections.

By Omoniyi David

Director of the Abuja School of Social and Political Thought, Dr Sam Amadi, has urged Nigerians not to place confidence in the Independent National Electoral Commission’s deployment of technology.

Amadi spoke at the Citizens Town Hall Meeting on Electoral Act 2026 in Abuja, where he called for a bipartisan audit commission to review INEC’s technological systems. He said controversies surrounding the 2023 general elections remain unresolved.

“We finished the 2023 election with so many allegations and issues,” he said, criticising the National Assembly for failing to conduct a comprehensive public hearing. He noted that key officials were not put on oath to explain what transpired.

Amadi insisted that electoral accountability is vital to restoring public trust, warning that without an independent audit of INEC’s technological infrastructure, confidence in the electoral process will remain fragile.