2027 Elections: Fayemi Calls for Overwhelming Participation of Nigerians - THISDAYLIVE

Former Ekiti state governor, Kayode Fayemi,has called on Nigerians to actively participate in politics ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He made the call on Saturday while speaking at the 2026 Plenary of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) in Ede, Osun State.

Delivering a lecture on a theme entitled: Faith in Action: Empowering the Catholic Laity for Political Participation Ahead of the 2027 General Elections, he appealed to Nigerians to secure their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), study candidates and their programmes, monitor electoral promises and promote political participation.

The former governor stated that citizens should hold their elected representatives accountable and make informed choices at the polls, in lieu of allowing ethnic/religious differences or blind loyalty to political parties to determine their votes.

In his words, political participation is both a civic responsibility and an opportunity to promote justice, peace, human dignity and the common good.

Fayemi said: “His Holiness Pope Leo XIV in his 2026 teaching on social doctrine to participants in the plenary session of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences (April 2026), emphasised that the common good must shape political and economic choices and that political power is not an end in itself but a means ordered towards the common good.

“This must be the primary objective of all lay people involved in politics. There are therefore a host of compelling reasons for the lay faithful to participate in politics and governance.

“Apart from the fact that this is the teaching of the church, as citizens of the nation-state, we have the civic duties as all citizens have, including paying taxes, voting, and supporting the candidates that we believe best qualify to hold public office.”

Also speaking, the president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria, Matthew Ndagoso, a reverend pastor, said the theme of the gathering was timely, considering the challenges of insecurity, corruption, poverty and injustice confronting the country.

Archbishop Ndagoso urged Nigerians to understand the Constitution and electoral process, support issue-based campaigns, reject electoral manipulation and violence, and demand transparency from political leaders.

The Archbishop of Ibadan Archdiocese, Leke Abegunrin, also called for competence, accountability, truthfulness and commitment to justice among those seeking public office.

He urged politicians and aspiring leaders to put public service above personal ambition, protect vulnerable citizens, reject corruption and restore hope to Nigerians.

The Bishop of Ekiti Catholic Diocese, Felix Femi Ajakaye, also stressed the importance of responsible citizenship and active participation in the political process.

He urged the Catholic faithful and other citizens to see political engagement as a way to promote the common good, uphold justice, and contribute to good governance.

In his opening remarks, the President of the Ibadan Ecclesiastical Province Laity Council, Francis Ibimiluyi, called for greater political participation ahead of the 2027 elections.

Ibimiluyi, a professor, warned that voter apathy, vote buying, corruption, misinformation and electoral violence could undermine democratic governance.

Founded on January 22, 1995, THISDAY is published by THISDAY NEWSPAPERS LTD., 35 Creek Road Apapa, Lagos, Nigeria with offices in 36 states of Nigeria , the Federal Capital Territory and around the world. It is Nigeria’s most authoritative news media available on all platforms for the political, business, professional and diplomatic elite and broader middle classes while serving as the meeting point of new ideas, culture and technology for the aspirationals and millennials. The newspaper is a public trust dedicated to the pursuit of truth and reason covering a range of issues from breaking news to politics, business, the markets, the arts, sports and community to the crossroads of people and society.

You can email us at: hello@thisdaylive.com or visit our contact us page.