Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Catholic Bishops' Conference of Nigeria has declared December 8, 2026, as a special national day of prayer and fasting for the success and peaceful conduct of the 2027 general elections. The declaration was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the Second Plenary Meeting of the CBCN, held at Our Lady and St. Kizito Pastoral Centre, Oke-Gada, Ede, Osogbo Diocese, Osun State, from September 10 to 18, 2026.
The communiqué, signed by the CBCN President, Most Rev. Matthew Man-Oso Ndagoso, Archbishop of Kaduna, and the Secretary, Bishop Peter Olukayode Odetoyinbo of Abeokuta Diocese, was read to newsmen in Osogbo by Archbishop Ndagoso. The bishops called on all dioceses and parishes across the country to embark on civic education, voter mobilisation, end-of-month fasting and prayer, and Rosary processions from October to December 2026 in preparation for the elections. "We announce that 8 December 2026 will be observed as special and national day for prayer and fasting for the success of the elections," the communiqué read.
The bishops urged all stakeholders to work for free, fair, and credible elections. They encouraged eligible voters to come out en masse to vote for qualified people into offices in line with their good consciences. The conference also issued a pastoral letter regarding the forthcoming general elections, which they asked citizens to study and follow. The bishops emphasised that credible elections were essential to addressing the challenges confronting the country, and called for greater cooperation between religious and traditional institutions in tackling insecurity, poverty, corruption, unemployment, violence, and divisions along ethnic and religious lines.
Beyond the electoral process, the bishops expressed deep concern over the state of the nation, lamenting insecurity, poverty, poor infrastructure, bad governance, and what they described as assaults on human dignity. They demanded that government at all levels create more job opportunities, provide an enabling environment for growth, support local businesses, and manage economic policies that ease the financial burden on the poor. "Concerted efforts must be made by the federal and state governments to drastically reduce poverty, pain and suffering of our people," the bishops said.
On insecurity, the conference commended government efforts, especially the move to decentralise the police, but stressed that the reorganisation must be holistic rather than driven by ethnic sentiment. They demanded that government do all that is necessary to stop banditry, recover vast portions of land used for criminal activity, and ensure productive use of such land.
The bishops also weighed in on the proposed Foreign Aid Bill 2026, urging the National Assembly not to pass it into law. They warned that granting sweeping discretionary authority to government officials over humanitarian resources risks stifling faith-based organisations, churches, mosques, and NGOs.
The declaration comes amid growing concerns over the integrity of the 2027 elections. The CBCN had previously warned that worsening insecurity and collapsing voter turnout were twin crises threatening Nigeria's democracy. The bishops had also urged the Tinubu-led Federal Government to urgently halt the nation's worsening insecurity and guarantee credible elections, warning that "anything short of transparent, free, fair and credible elections in 2027 would be an invitation to avoidable disaster".
The December 8 national prayer and fasting day will be observed across all Catholic dioceses and parishes in Nigeria, with the bishops calling on Nigerians of all faiths to join in praying for a peaceful and successful electoral process.
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