The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) has urged the National Assembly to urgently review its position on electoral reforms.
Specifically, the bishops highlighted real-time transmission of election results as a major concern.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the body called for the mandatory transmission of results from polling units.
The bishops said this step would strengthen public trust in Nigeria’s democracy.
The Archbishop of Owerri and outgoing CBCN President, Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji, made the appeal on Sunday in Abuja. He spoke at the opening of the 2026 First Plenary Meeting held at the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria.
Push for Mandatory Electronic Transmission
Speaking on the theme, “The Common Good and Leadership in Nigeria,” Ugorji expressed concern over declining voter turnout.
He said participation fell from 69 percent in 2003 to 23 percent in 2023.
“This decline says a lot about citizens’ trust in the electoral process and calls into question the legitimacy of elected officials in a democratic dispensation with the mandate of an ever-decreasing minority,” he said.
He urged federal lawmakers to amend the Electoral Act. He asked them to make it compulsory for results from the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) to be transmitted directly from polling units to the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal.
According to him, this would prevent human interference.
Criticism of National Assembly
Ugorji also faulted what he described as inconsistent positions by lawmakers on technology and transparency.
He noted that the National Assembly passed the 2025 Tax Act mandating digital filing and record-keeping.
However, he said lawmakers appeared reluctant to insist on digital transparency in elections.
“The honourable members of the NASS should not allow themselves to be perceived as talking out of both sides of the mouth. The world is watching! Above all, God is also watching,” he said.
Insecurity, Economic Concerns Raised
Beyond electoral reforms, Ugorji condemned rising insecurity across the country.
He cited the killing of over 200 persons in Kwara State. The clergy described the attacks as senseless massacres.
He also raised concerns about illegal mining. He said it costs Nigeria about $9 billion annually.
Other Remarks at Plenary
In his remarks, former Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mike Omeri, urged leaders to embrace servant leadership.
Similarly, the Emeritus Archbishop of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, expressed hope that the four-day meeting would produce solutions to promote justice and peace.
The event attracted representatives of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, alongside leaders of various Christian denominations.
The high point of the session came when Ugorji announced he would step down as CBCN president at the end of the plenary.
He thanked his colleagues for their support during his tenure.
