Catholic Bishops in Nigeria have warned that the country is gradually moving towards a one-party system, which they say threatens democracy.
The bishops raised the concern in a communiqué issued on Friday at the end of their plenary meeting in Akwa Ibom State. The statement was signed by the Archbishop of Owerri and President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), Lucius Ugorji, and the Bishop of Uromi and CBCN Secretary, Donatus Ogun.
“In fact, there seems to be suppression of opposition as Nigeria appears to be tilting to a one-party state, the development of which is not a good omen for democracy,” the bishops said.
They criticised politicians for focusing more on gaining and keeping power ahead of the 2027 general elections instead of addressing the needs of the people.
“In the face of many life threats, politicians are more preoccupied with securing and retaining power and less concerned with good governance for the common good of the electorate,” the communiqué read.
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The bishops said this obsession with power had fuelled corruption, inefficiency, and neglect of citizens’ welfare. They also condemned the frequent defections and political realignments, describing them as selfish moves.
“We observe that many politicians are merely strategising, aligning and realigning, defecting from one party to another; and posturing for future political offices with little or no intention to contribute to the common good and make better the lives of the citizens,” they added.
Looking ahead to 2027, the bishops called for urgent electoral reforms. They demanded electronic transmission and real-time collation of results from polling units to ensure transparency.
They also urged the judiciary to remain impartial in handling election cases.
“Judicial credibility is vital to national stability,” they stressed.