Ahead of the May 29 handover to a new administration, the Umuahia Diocese of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) has described the just-concluded 2023 general elections as “abysmal, unfair, and shambolic.”
“The conduct of the elections were characterised by irregularities contrary to assurances of fairness by the Independent National Electoral Commission and the outgoing administration,” the diocese said.
The church stated this in a communique signed by the bishop and president of the diocesan synod, Revd Geoffrey Ibeabuchi and the clerical synod secretary, Ven. Okwukwe Ucheagwu.
The communique which was issued at the end of the 3rd Session of the 10th Synod of the diocese in Umuahia, the Abia State capital, was themed: “Urgent response to Christ: How ready are you?
“The administration caused the citizens untold and protracted hardship following the recent currency redesign and the exercise was poorly planned and executed by the Central Bank of Nigeria.”
“The gross failure, and oftentimes connivance of law enforcement agents to protect the lives and property of Nigerians and more particularly the recent increased tempo and instances of such attacks.”
The diocese, however, appreciated the administration for being able to conduct the poll even in the face of the failures and “particularly the youths for participating and turning up massively for the exercise”.
The diocese further noted that suspending, though temporarily, the planned removal of fuel subsidy would have worsened the economic hardship many citizens are already facing.
“We laud the suspension of the 2023 Population and Housing Census, given that the majority of the citizens no longer trust the sincerity of the administration and transparency in executing the project and wrong timing.”
It appealed for the unconditional release of the leader of the banned Indigenous People of Biafra, as repentant terrorists in some sections of the country have been released as part of peace-building moves.
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