Nigeria Sliding Towards One-Party Rule, Catholic Bishops Warn

CBCN cautions politicians against democratic decline, urges urgent electoral reforms ahead of 2027 elections

The Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) has sounded a strong warning over what it described as the dangerous suppression of opposition voices, cautioning that Nigeria is gradually drifting into a one-party state.

The bishops issued this warning in a communiqué released at the end of their plenary meeting held in Akwa Ibom State on Friday. The statement was jointly signed by Archbishop Lucius Ugorji of Owerri, President of CBCN, and Bishop Donatus Ogun of Uromi, the Conference Secretary.

According to the communiqué, the bishops expressed concern that the political class has become overwhelmingly preoccupied with securing and retaining power ahead of the 2027 general elections rather than prioritising good governance and the welfare of the people.

They described this obsession with political dominance as a major driver of corruption, inefficiency, and neglect of national development. The CBCN further criticised the rising trend of defections, alignments, and realignments among politicians, dismissing them as self-serving maneuvers with little intention of delivering meaningful leadership.

“In the face of many life-threatening challenges, politicians are more concerned with strategies to grasp power in 2027 than with governance for the common good. Nigeria appears to be tilting dangerously to a one-party state, which is not a healthy omen for democracy,” the bishops declared.

Call for Electoral Reforms and Judicial Integrity: Looking ahead to the 2027 elections, the Catholic bishops demanded urgent and credible electoral reforms. They specifically called for the electronic transmission of results from polling units as well as electronic collation in real time to guarantee transparency.

The communiqué also urged the Nigerian judiciary to maintain neutrality in electoral disputes, stressing that judicial credibility remains a cornerstone for democratic stability and peace.

The bishops maintained that without impartial justice and transparent elections, Nigeria risks further democratic decline and deepening mistrust among its citizens.

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