Former Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi has urged Nigerian Catholics to actively participate in politics ahead of the 2027 general elections, warning that withdrawing from politics could create room for unprincipled opportunists to take control of public office.
Fayemi made the remarks on Saturday during the plenary session of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) at the Our Lady and St. Kizito Pastoral Centre in Oke-Gada, Ede, Osun State.
The former governor said Catholics should not withdraw from politics because of the perception that it is a “dirty game”, stressing that the teachings of the Catholic Church encourage members to participate in the social, economic and political affairs of society.
In his lecture, titled ‘Faith in Action: Empowering the Catholic Laity for Active Political Participation Ahead of the 2027 General Elections’, Fayemi urged Catholics to apply their values to public affairs and promote justice, accountability and the common good.
He said political participation should go beyond voting, noting that citizens could also contribute by contesting elections, joining political parties, monitoring the electoral process, educating voters and holding elected officials accountable.
“Public office is far too important to be entrusted to people who lack the fear of God. When committed Catholics who believe in social justice and the common good withdraw from politics, we create room for unprincipled opportunists to seize power,” Fayemi said.
The former governor urged Catholics to approach the 2027 elections without allowing ethnicity, religion, personal financial interests, political patronage or blind loyalty to political parties to influence their choices.
He advised voters to assess candidates and their political programmes based on their capacity to promote human dignity, justice, peace, security, development and the common good.
Fayemi also called on eligible Catholics to register as voters, obtain their Permanent Voter Cards and participate in voter education, election monitoring and initiatives aimed at protecting democratic institutions.
He said the Catholic Church should prioritise political formation, arguing that encouraging members to participate in politics would be insufficient without adequately preparing them for the responsibilities of public service.
The former governor advocated well-structured programmes covering Catholic social teaching, the Nigerian Constitution, electoral laws, democratic governance, ethical leadership, public policy, human rights, media literacy and election monitoring.
Fayemi, a former minister of solid minerals development, also called on the Catholic Youth Organisation of Nigeria (CYON) to organise programmes to raise young people’s awareness of vote buying, voter apathy and electoral violence.
Goodness Anunobi
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