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The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) has criticised the conduct of the 2023 general elections, saying it weakened public trust in the nation’s democracy. But the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has rejected the claim, describing the bishops’ verdict as “ungodly” and unfounded.
Speaking at an interactive session with Catholic faithful of the Calabar Ecclesiastical Province in Akwa Ibom State on Saturday, the CBCN President and Archbishop of Owerri, Lucius Ugorji, said Nigeria was “sinking on many fronts,” with the disputed 2023 elections making matters worse.
He argued that corruption remained the root cause of the country’s crises, which he described as “moral rottenness spreading unchecked like a deadly cancer.” The Archbishop said electoral malpractice, fraud, and technical failures during the polls damaged citizens’ confidence in democracy.
“Citizens’ confidence in the electoral process was seriously eroded during the last general elections by electoral malpractice, fraud and the so-called election glitches,” Archbishop Ugorji declared. He called for reforms that would guarantee real-time electronic transmission and collation of results. He also demanded constitutional amendments to strengthen the independence of INEC, noting that most appointments to the commission were partisan and politically influenced.
He further warned that delaying reforms could push the country toward instability. “Fundamental reforms are necessary for the preservation of social stability, and those who try to frustrate such peaceful changes make violent changes unavoidable,” he cautioned.
Ugorji also lamented insecurity, poverty, and unemployment across Nigeria. “Insecurity continues to haunt us. Many towns and villages across the nation have become communities of fear, flight and funerals,” he said. He added that ordinary Nigerians were groaning under economic hardship, with young people turning to crime, migration, and hopelessness.
On governance, the Archbishop accused leaders of neglecting their duties while focusing on political ambition ahead of the 2027 elections. “While the country is faced with serious existential threats, many politicians at the national and sub-national levels seem more preoccupied with the 2027 general elections and less concerned with fulfilling their campaign promises,” he said.
He also cited the death of former President Muhammadu Buhari in London on July 13, 2025, as proof of Nigeria’s collapsing health system, pointing out that billions spent on medical tourism by leaders contrast sharply with the poor state of local hospitals. He said the decay extended to education, where inadequate funding, poor infrastructure, and a lack of qualified teachers were leading to a steady decline in quality. He added that the power sector remained weak, with frequent outages, obsolete infrastructure, and high costs affecting businesses and households.
Ugorji urged Christians and the laity to rise to the challenge of transforming society. He encouraged them to not only register and vote but also join political parties, contest elections, and act as agents of change. Quoting Vatican II and Pope John Paul II, he emphasised the need for political education to prepare young Nigerians for leadership.
However, INEC strongly rejected the bishops’ criticism. In a statement released on Sunday, the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Rotimi Oyekanmi, defended the 2023 elections, saying they were among the best ever conducted in Nigeria.
“The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria is not in the position to determine the credibility of the 2023 general election because it does not have the evidence to do so,” Oyekanmi said. He challenged the bishops to present proof of their claims, otherwise “they should fear God and hold their peace henceforth.”
According to him, the election met the necessary legal standards. He said the much-criticised failure of the INEC Result Viewing portal (IReV) during the presidential election was being exaggerated. He explained that results were properly recorded at polling units and witnessed by party agents, stressing that the IReV only displayed results already declared at the units.
“The glitch that happened to the IReV is being erroneously projected as rigging the election. But the IReV does not add, subtract, or collate election results. It only displays the results already declared at the polling units,” Oyekanmi said. He compared the incident to technical glitches in phones, banks, and social media platforms, arguing that it should not be viewed differently.
While INEC insists the elections were credible, the bishops continue to demand far-reaching reforms to restore public confidence in the electoral system. Both sides, however, agree that strengthening democracy in Nigeria requires action to address corruption, insecurity, and economic hardship.
