The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) has urged the National Assembly (NASS) to urgently revisit its stance on electoral reforms, emphasising the need for mandatory real-time transmission of election results to restore public confidence in the democratic process.
The call was made by Most Rev. Lucius Ugorji, Archbishop of Owerri and outgoing CBCN President, during the opening session of the 2026 First Plenary Meeting held at the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria on Sunday in Abuja.
Speaking on the theme “The Common Good and Leadership in Nigeria,” Archbishop Ugorji highlighted what he described as a “serious decline in voter engagement” over the past two decades.
He noted that voter turnout in Nigeria has dropped from 69 per cent in 2003 to a record low of 23 per cent in 2023, a trend he warned threatens the legitimacy of elected leaders.
“This decline reflects a diminishing trust in the electoral process and raises critical questions about governance in a democracy where only a minority participates,” he said.
To reverse this trend, Archbishop Ugorji called on lawmakers to amend the Electoral Act to ensure that results from the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) at polling units are transmitted directly to the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal, thereby preventing human interference in election outcomes.
The CBCN President also criticised what he termed the “inconsistent positions” of NASS regarding technology and transparency.
He pointed out that while the National Assembly implemented digital processes in the 2025 Tax Act, it has yet to embrace similar standards for electoral transparency.
“Honourable members should not appear to speak with two voices.
”The world and God are watching,” Archbishop Ugorji warned.
Beyond electoral reforms, the Archbishop expressed concern about the nation’s worsening security situation, citing recent massacres that claimed more than 200 lives in Kwara State.
He also condemned the economic losses caused by illegal mining, estimated at $9 billion annually, describing such activities as “sabotage to national development.”
The plenary, chaired by former National Orientation Agency Director-General Dr. Mike Omeri, stressed the importance of servant leadership as a tool to bridge Nigeria’s growing social and economic gaps.
Emeritus Archbishop John Cardinal Onaiyekan described the four-day meeting as an opportunity to propose actionable solutions aimed at fostering justice, peace, and effective governance under one God.
The bishops’ call for real-time election result transmission adds to ongoing debates on electoral integrity in Nigeria, with stakeholders emphasising that technological adoption is critical to curbing fraud, enhancing transparency, and rebuilding citizens’ trust in democratic governance.
A key moment of the session was Archbishop Ugorji’s announcement that he would step down as CBCN President at the end of the plenary, thanking fellow bishops for their support during his tenure as the conference’s “chief servant.”
The event drew attendance from high-ranking government officials, including representatives of President Bola Tinubu and FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, alongside leaders of various Christian denominations, demonstrating the collaboration between religious leaders and policymakers on issues of national importance.
