Catholic Bishops Urge Action on Insecurity for 2027 Elections

The Catholic Bishops' Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), led by President Archbishop Lucius Ugorji, has made a plea to the federal government to urgently address the escalating insecurity in the country to guarantee credible elections in 2027. This appeal was made during the CBCN's first plenary meeting of 2026 in Abuja.

Archbishop Ugorji expressed deep concern over the country's security situation, citing repeated kidnappings and mass killings across several states. He condemned the exploitation of security gaps by gunmen and emphasized the need for the government to go beyond reactive measures.

The bishops also raised alarms about the declining voter turnout, attributing it to a loss of trust in the electoral process, which questions the legitimacy of elected officials. Archbishop Ugorji called for tougher enforcement and the deployment of technology to monitor mining sites, linking illegal mining to funding for criminal activities.

President Tinubu's administration has been urged to strengthen security forces and ensure electoral reforms to facilitate free and fair elections.