Bishop Kukah urges Nigerian voters to participate in 2027 elections

Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah has issued a call for Nigerians to actively participate in the 2027 general elections, describing voting as a necessity for the country’s survival. Speaking on Channels Television, the cleric argued that while institutional failures and logistical issues involving the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) are common, the ultimate responsibility for the nation's political direction lies with the voters.

Kukah suggested that blaming external agencies often serves as an excuse for voter passivity. He emphasized that citizens cannot effectively hold the government or security agencies accountable if they do not engage in the electoral process.

In a separate address at St. Finbarr’s College in Lagos, Kukah also addressed the declining influence of the Catholic Church in Nigerian public life. He urged the Church to renew its values and reclaim its role in human development through service and soft power, rather than coercion, noting that the institutions established by missionaries, such as schools and hospitals, once provided a foundation for a good society.