- Charge National, International Observers, to safeguard the integrity of the electoral process
- Task judges not to abuse judicial power and office
- Our votes are precious; we must use them well, clerics urge Nigerians
- Enjoin media to desist from sensational journalism
The Catholic Bishops of Nigeria under the auspices of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) have enjoined the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and its officials to ensure credible and transparent elections beyond reproach. They gave this admonition ahead of the elections that commenced on Saturday, February 25 in a communiqué entitled: “Citizens Participation in Good Governance in Nigeria”, issued at the end of their first 2023 plenary meeting held Saturday, February 11 to Friday, 17 at the CSN Resource Centre, Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, Durumi, Abuja. The communiqué read in part, “We urge the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and its officials to ensure that their conducts in the entire electoral process are transparent, honest, and beyond reproach. We continue to enjoin the Commission to make sure that the newly adopted technologies for accreditation, transmission, and collation, are transparently and sincerely deployed and not manipulated to give false results.” The prelates implored Nigerians to vote for God-fearing and transparent candidates with capacity to transform the country’s economy as well as ensure good governance.
The Bishops in the communiqué, signed by the President of CBCN, Most Rev. Lucius Ugorji, Archbishop of Owerri; and Secretary, Most Rev. Donatus Ogun, Bishop of Uromi, urged the citizenry to shun the vices of election violence, vote selling and vote buying. “As we wrote in our recent Pastoral Letter on the 2023 Elections in Nigeria, “these upcoming elections provide us with yet another opportunity in our national history to choose leaders capable of governing for the common good” (p.1). 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. “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. “One ugly and unfortunate phenomenon that has characterized the electoral contests in our nation is that of vote buying and selling, aimed at frustrating and compromising the free choice of the people.
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.” Acknowledging the important role of both national and international observers in safeguarding the integrity of the electoral process and the promotion of its greater openness and transparency, they called on all those bequeathed with such tasks to eschew every trace of bias and partisanship in discharging their duties. The Catholic Bishops raised concern on rising cases of abuse of judicial power and advised the judiciary to perform its duties, taking cognizance of the values of truth, fairness and justice. According to the CBCN, judicial abuse of power erodes public confidence in the judiciary. They said, “The Judiciary is an important institution in the settlement of electoral disputes in our nation. The significance of this role has continued to rise to the point that it seems no election is complete and determined without the pronouncement of the courts. Unfortunately, this role sometimes results in the abuse of judicial power and office wherein unconscionable orders are made, which mock the electoral process and the general will of the electorate. No doubt, this not only compromises the essence of democratic competition but also leads to lose of confidence in the Judiciary.
We, therefore, encourage all judges and lawyers to; once again see themselves as ministers in the temple of truth and justice, and work to make the Judiciary the ‘last hope of the common man’.” Highlighting on the essence of the theme of its first plenary Assembly, the high ranking clergy men stressed that participation is at the core of the realisation of the common good, which good governance serves. According to them, citizens’ participation is a key element of a good governance structure. They stated their stance, “We, the Bishops, have continued to voice out the need for Nigerians to be more involved and be part of the decisions over what happens in our society. As enshrined in various sections of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution, 2023: Catholic Bishops to INEC… Continued from PAGE 01 the right to political participation is a human right. The Church teaches that responsible citizenship is a virtue and participation in the political process is a moral obligation (CCC, nos. 1913-1915). “One of the potent instruments of participation in the political life of a country is the choice of its leaders. In the face of the daunting challenges facing our nation, we should not give in to hopelessness and despair, or compromise our values in such a manner as to come up with leaders who are neither intended by God nor truly elected by the people. We, as citizens, must learn to make the right choices for good governance to thrive and be sustained.
We, therefore, urge one and all to be more conscious of the kind of choices that they make in their life, especially as we approach another critical period in our political history.” The media in playing its watchdog role has a responsibility of being the intermediary between the government and the governed, which is a critical link between the function of the media and good governance. Understanding this function of the media as a critical ingredient of the growth and development of the society, the CBCN stressed that the media can entrench good and democratic governance, by providing the necessary information that empowers the citizens not only to engage the political class in debates on the issues that affect their lives, but also, to exercise their democratic choices and make informed decisions about public issues (Inter Mirifica, nn.3-5; Communio et). The communiqué further read, “The Media also function as watchdog by engaging in investigative journalism, which holds political officials and the citizens accountable in the use of public patrimony (Aetatis Novae, n. 14, par. 2). The Bishops implored the media, “We call on the Media practitioners and owners, not only to seek but to speak the truth with a clear conscience, desisting from the sensational journalism presently being promoted, largely through fake news, violence, inflammatory and divisive remarks. We also urge all citizens to be very discerning and circumspect about news being peddled in the social media. (Pope Francis, Letter to SIGNIS, the World Catholic Association for Communications, 2022). Furthermore, we call upon Governments at all levels to ensure free and independent media that will help to achieve good governance and responsible citizenship.”