Catholic Bishops Warn Politicians: Stop Vote-Buying, Youth Thuggery Ahead of 2027 Elections
Osogbo, Nigeria – September 14, 2026—Nigeria’s Catholic bishops have issued a strong moral challenge to politicians ahead of the 2027 general elections, warning against vote-buying and the recruitment of young people for political thuggery.
The call came during the opening Mass of the Second 2026 Plenary Meeting of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), hosted by the Catholic Diocese of Osogbo in Osun State.
The gathering brought together bishops from across the country under the theme of accountable governance and moral citizenship.
“You Cannot Deceive God”
Most Rev. John Oyejola, Catholic Bishop of Osogbo, delivered one of the strongest messages. He urged political actors to abandon violence, fraud, and intimidation, insisting that power seized through bloodshed or manipulation carries spiritual and social consequences.
“If you subvert the will of the people, you may deceive institutions, you may intimidate communities, you may manipulate processes, but you cannot deceive the Almighty God,” Oyejola said.
He also cautioned ordinary Nigerians against selling their votes, arguing that no society can progress when citizens trade their long-term destiny for short-term cash or gifts.
“A society cannot rise when its people trade their destiny for temporary gains,” he added.
Youths Must Reject Thuggery
CBCN President and Archbishop of Kaduna, Most Rev. Matthew Man-Oso Ndagoso, reinforced the message. He specifically called on young people to refuse recruitment as political thugs and urged voters to reject both vote-buying and vote-selling.
Ndagoso pointed to the recent Osun State governorship election as a positive example. Voters, he noted, resisted intimidation, turned out in large numbers, and stayed at polling units to protect their votes.
He described the outcome as “a glimmer of hope” and expressed optimism that it could signal better things for 2027.
The Archbishop also appealed to citizens to collect their Permanent Voter’s Cards, participate actively, and defend the integrity of the ballot.
He called on political leaders at every level—from the Presidency to local government—to guarantee a genuine level playing field.
Call for Credible Elections
The bishops warned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that anything short of transparent, free, fair, and credible elections in 2027 would amount to a serious disservice to the nation.
They stressed that declining public trust, fuelled by past experiences of violence, vote-buying, and perceived manipulation, risks further voter apathy.
The Apostolic Nuncio to Nigeria, Most Rev. Michael Francis Crotty, also urged citizens to avoid apathy and engage fully in the democratic process so that their votes truly count.
A Broader Appeal for Moral Leadership
The bishops framed their intervention as both spiritual and civic. They reminded politicians that public office is a sacred trust, not a personal inheritance, and called on the electorate to choose leaders based on competence, integrity, and commitment to the common good rather than ethnic or religious sentiment.
As political activity intensifies ahead of 2027, the Catholic hierarchy’s unified stance adds significant moral weight to ongoing demands for cleaner elections.
Whether politicians and voters will heed the warning remains to be seen, but the message from Osogbo is clear: Nigeria’s democratic future cannot be bought or bullied into place.
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