By Ruben Mario Brodrick
IBADAN, NIGERIA — As the nation gradually edges toward the critical 2027 General Elections, the Catholic Church has sent a clear and uncompromising directive to its clergy: the sanctuary must never be turned into a political campaign ground, but priests cannot afford to remain silent or neutral in the face of structural injustice and governance failure.
This charge was delivered on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, by Rev. Fr. Dr. Michael Nsikak Umoh, the National Director of Social Communications at the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN).
Delivering a keynote paper titled “The Priest, the Pulpit, and Politics: Galvanising a Nation for Responsible Leadership” at the Annual Gathering of the Ss. Peter & Paul Major Seminary Alumni Association in Bodija, Ibadan, Fr. Umoh diagnosed Nigeria as a nation “highly fragmented, deeply hurting, and bleeding.”
A Prophetic Duty, Not Partisan Ambition
Addressing an audience of bishops, monsignori, and priests, Fr. Umoh clarified the fine line between partisan politics and the Church’s moral mandate. While Canon Law strictly bars priests from running for office or holding political party cards, he emphasized that this restriction must never be used as a shield for pastoral cowardice.
”The pulpit is not an ivory tower cut off from the harsh realities of human life; instead, it is a prophetic space meant for building a strong conscience, fiercely defending human dignity, and systematically educating the laity,” Fr. Umoh declared.
He noted that with nearly 62% of Nigerians living below the poverty line and insecurity turning kidnapping into a lucrative interstate industry, an abstract, watered-down gospel is no longer enough. “If our theology does not speak directly to the pains and physical starvation of our flock, it ceases to be the true, liberating Gospel of Jesus Christ.”
Rejecting the Trap of ‘Greek Gifts’
One of the sharpest warnings in the address was directed at the financial co-option of the clergy by desperate politicians seeking religious validation ahead of 2027. Fr. Umoh warned priests to be hyper-vigilant against sudden, overwhelming generosity from political figures offering massive donations for parish projects or harvest bazaars.
Describing these as tactical investments designed to buy the Church’s silence, he remarked:
- The Piper’s Tune: Once a pastor accepts these compromised funds, his moral authority is diminished.
- Financial Independence: Priests must instead rely on the authentic stewardship of ordinary lay faithful to fund their missions.
Furthermore, the CSN Director placed a strict ban on “liturgical campaigning.” He reiterated that under no circumstances should politicians be given a microphone to address congregations or use the mass for subtle endorsements.
Elevating the JDPC as an Electoral Watchdog
To translate the Church’s teachings into grassroots action, Fr. Umoh called for a total overhaul of how parishes utilize the Justice, Development, and Peace Commission (JDPC). Rather than treating it as a low-priority group for retirees, he demanded it be placed at the forefront of parish life.
The 2027 Pastoral Action Plan
- Mass Civic Literacy: Deploying the JDPC to organize seminars teaching the laity how to evaluate political platforms using Catholic Social Teaching.
- Voter Mobilization: Instituting “Civic Sundays” to aggressively push for voter registration and Permanent Voter Card (PVC) collection.
- Independent Oversight: Partnering with diocesan networks to train and deploy high-integrity lay parishioners as accredited election observers to deter ballot-box snatching and result manipulation.
Call for Overwhelming Electoral Reform
Fr. Umoh did not spare the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), noting that public trust in the umpire has been severely fractured. He described INEC as exhibiting features of an “extractive institution” designed to shield the elite from accountability, especially following recent high-profile vulnerabilities regarding unauthorized access to voter data.
To save the 2027 elections from becoming a “multi-billion Naira exercise in futility,” he echoed the structural demands of civil society:
- Independent Leadership: Moving the appointment of INEC leadership away from executive control, in line with the historic Uwais Report.
- Mandatory Electronic Overlays: Creating an unyielding legal framework requiring real-time, uninterrupted electronic transmission of results from polling units directly to the IReV portal.
- Judicial Timelines: Ensuring all legal battles and tribunal challenges are fully resolved before any elected official takes the oath of office.
A Beacon of Hope Amid Burnout
Acknowledging the heavy psychological and spiritual toll on priests—whose rectories have essentially turned into free clinics, employment bureaus, and food banks—Fr. Umoh surged his brother priests to resist the dual temptations of cynicism and partisan anger.
Invoking historical parallels, he reminded them of how the Catholic priesthood provided the “moral oxygen” for Poland’s Solidarity movement against Soviet oppression, and highlighted Archbishop Oscar Romero’s legacy of being the “microphone of God” in El Salvador.
”We cannot succumb to the paralysis of cynicism,” Fr. Umoh concluded in a passionate appeal. “Let us decisively stand tall in our white cassocks, not just as ministers of the sanctuary, but as unyielding watchmen over the destiny of our people… Let us together dismantle the empire of deceit in our dear nation with the weapon of truth.”
