Former Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi and Catholic bishops have urged Nigerians to remain actively involved in the political process ahead of the 2027 general elections despite concerns over vote buying, violence and voter apathy.
The call was made during the September 2026 plenary of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria in Ede, Osun State.
Fayemi Calls for Better Voter Participation
Fayemi urged Nigerians to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards and take greater interest in the political process.
He advised voters to study candidates, examine their programmes and monitor the electoral process instead of making choices based solely on political parties, ethnicity, religion or financial inducements.
The former governor also warned that democracy would remain vulnerable if citizens withdrew from elections because of frustration with the political system.
He encouraged voters to hold elected officials accountable and demand better governance.
Bishops Warn Against Vote Buying
The Catholic bishops also called on Nigerians to reject vote buying and other practices capable of undermining credible elections.
They urged citizens to understand their constitutional rights and responsibilities while encouraging political parties to focus on issues rather than violence and personal attacks.
The bishops said electoral violence, misinformation and vote buying posed serious threats to democratic development.
They also encouraged Nigerians to participate peacefully in the 2027 elections and resist attempts to manipulate the electoral process.
Call for Perseverance
The bishops and Fayemi stressed that citizens should not abandon the political process because of past disappointments.
They argued that meaningful democratic change requires sustained participation, voter education and accountability from political leaders.
With the 2027 election cycle already gathering momentum, concerns over vote buying and political violence are expected to remain major issues for electoral stakeholders.
