The Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) has cautioned the public that any aspirant with a dubious reputation in the forthcoming national election will not be advantageous to them. The bishops made this declaration in a statement released after their initial plenary meeting for 2023, which took place at the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria in Abuja. The document, endorsed by the CBCN President and Secretary, Archbishop Lucius Ugorji and Bishop Donatus Ogun, respectively, maintained that individuals in politics with sinister motives can never have a genuine concern for the welfare of citizens or the progress of the country. “These upcoming elections provide us with yet another opportunity in our national history to choose leaders capable of governing for the common good,” they said.
“This is now the time to reject evil, greater or lesser, and wisely choose good and capable candidates at all levels. Our votes are precious; we must use them well.
“We encourage all eligible citizens to come out en masse to vote for God-fearing, honest, vibrant, and transparent leaders for a better Nigeria.”
Additionally, the bishops called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and its staff to guarantee that the recently implemented technologies for verification, transmission, and consolidation of election results are not tampered with to produce inaccurate outcomes.
“We equally call on the law enforcement agents, whose primary duty is to enforce law and order and ensure the protection of persons and materials during the elections, to efficiently and professionally carry out their responsibilities without fear, favour, or partiality.
“In the same manner, we advise our youths not to allow themselves to be used as thugs and agents of disruption and violence before, during, and after the elections. We, at the same time, enjoin voters to ensure that proper counting is done before the transmission of the results,” the communique read.
The bishop also denounced the act of buying and selling votes, emphasizing that it is intended to undermine and jeopardize the free will of the electorate.
“We vehemently continue to condemn this practice and urge all politicians and the electorate to avoid this unlawful and sinful practice and embrace the values of human dignity, integrity, and decency in order to have free, fair, and credible elections,” they said.
Furthermore, the bishops implored all judges and lawyers to view themselves as servants in the sanctum of truth and equity, and endeavour to transform the judiciary into the ‘last resort of the common man.’
