OSOGBO, Nigeria — Members of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) have designated Dec. 8 as a National Day of Prayer and fasting for the success of the country's 2027 general elections, calling on Nigerians to prepare spiritually for the polls.
In a statement issued at the end of their 2026 second plenary assembly held at Our Lady and St. Kizito Pastoral Centre in the Diocese of Osogbo, the bishops urged stakeholders to work toward elections that are "free, fair and credible."
"We announce that 8 December 2026 will be observed as a special national day for prayer and fasting for the success of the elections," the bishops said in the statement following their Sept. 10–18 plenary assembly.
They encouraged eligible voters to participate in the elections and elect leaders who are qualified to serve while urging citizens to make their choices according to their consciences.
"We encourage eligible voters to come out en masse to vote qualified people into offices and in line with their good consciences," the bishops said in the statement that their president, Archbishop Matthew Man-Oso Ndagoso, signed.
The CBCN also urged Nigerians to familiarize themselves with its pastoral letter on the forthcoming elections and follow the provisions and guidelines contained in the document.
As part of preparations for the polls, the bishops called on dioceses and parishes across the country to organize civic education and voter mobilization activities alongside end-of-month fasting and prayer.
They further encouraged the faithful to participate in rosary processions from October to December, linking the spiritual activities with preparations for the elections.
The bishops also addressed the role of technology and artificial intelligence (AI), urging politicians and other users to deploy emerging technologies responsibly and ethically, particularly in the context of the forthcoming elections.
"As a vehicle for evangelization, we enjoin all to use it to transform data into knowledge and insights for greater value," they said while calling on political actors to exercise responsibility in their use of technology and AI.
The bishops said technology is closely linked to human freedom and autonomy but cautioned that its use must remain guided by ethical considerations.
"Technology is not inherently evil or antagonistic to humanity, but it is never neutral," they said, referencing Pope Leo XIV's encyclical Magnifica Humanitas.
They also raised concern over what they described as the growing challenge of neo-paganism in Nigeria, particularly among young people, which they attributed partly to economic hardship, cultural revival, and inadequate Christian formation.
The bishops observed that modern forms of neo-paganism spread rapidly through internet culture, media, and books, and called on pastoral agents to make greater use of digital platforms in evangelization and catechesis.
"We encourage pastoral agents to intentionally incorporate the use of digital spaces, social media, and online catechesis in teaching the truth of the Gospel," they said.
They also called for what they described as healthy inculturation that respects positive elements of African cultural heritage while maintaining the foundational teachings of Christianity.
On education, the bishops described access to quality education as essential for human development and the peaceful integration of Nigeria's diverse communities and cultures.
They said the Catholic Church remains committed to education and ready to collaborate with the government in providing quality learning opportunities while urging authorities to fulfill their constitutional responsibility to fund education.
"We, therefore, urge governments to embrace their constitutional responsibility of funding education," they said, adding that children in public, private, and mission schools should have access to free education, particularly at primary and secondary levels.
They further called for policies that promote the development of the human person and contribute to the country's overall development.
The bishops also expressed concern over a bill before the National Assembly that, according to them, could affect churches, mosques, schools, and humanitarian organizations involved in assisting vulnerable and conflict-affected communities.
They said provisions requiring the registration of foreign aid resources and giving authorities powers to supervise their use could create challenges for organizations providing critical assistance.
The bishops particularly raised concern about provisions that would allow authorities to deny or refuse renewal of an organization's registration if its activities are considered not to be in the "national interest," arguing that such provisions could give government officials broad discretionary powers.
They further said the proposed legislation could create additional bureaucracy, duplicate existing regulations, and increase government control over civic organizations.
"Non-profit organizations and Incorporated Trustees including churches, mosques, other religious bodies, and humanitarian groups are already strictly regulated by the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) under the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) and some other extant laws," they said.
The bishops consequently called on the National Assembly and the federal government not to proceed with the bill, citing concerns over freedom of association, religion, thought, and conscience as well as its potential implications for the wider development of Nigerians.
This story was first published by ACI Africa, the sister service of EWTN News in Africa, and has been adapted by EWTN News.
