Catholic Diocese Seeks Electoral Reforms, Offences Commission

The Catholic Diocese of Wukari in Taraba State has called for a comprehensive reform of the nation’s electoral system ahead of the 2027 general elections to tackle election malpractices.

The church also seeks full deployment of technology in the electoral process and the establishment of an Electoral Offences Commission to track cases of malpractices.

The diocese also urged the authorities to strengthen the independence of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure credible elections and deepen democracy in the country.

The position is contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the third general assembly of the diocese held in Wukari, headquarters of Wukari local government area at the weekend.

The communiqué signed by the Catholic Bishop of Wukari Diocese, Most Rev. Mark Maigida Nzukwein and the chancellor of the diocese, Very Rev. Fr. Simon Akuraga noted that insecurity in Southern Taraba had worsened in recent months, resulting in the destruction of churches, killings, displacement of parishioners and the fire incident that razed the diocesan cathedral.

The assembly stressed that good governance, which remained a prerequisite for meaningful development, called for deliberate actions to guarantee credible elections, justice and peaceful coexistence irrespective of ethnic, religious or political differences.

It stated that the church, as a moral institution, could not remain indifferent to corruption, injustice, oppression and poor leadership that undermine human dignity.

The communiqué added, “Where good governance exists, corruption is minimised, public trust is strengthened, human rights are protected and sustainable development is promoted for the benefit of all citizens.

“For the church to effectively promote good governance in Nigeria, it must faithfully balance its spiritual mandate with a consistent, non-partisan commitment to justice, truth, accountability and the rule of law.”

The diocese further called for constitutional reforms to achieve true federalism, strengthening of institutions, especially the judiciary, strict adherence to the rule of law and the deepening of anti-corruption measures.

It advocated leadership renewal, value reorientation, civic awakening, youth engagement, digital activism, economic diversification and internal democracy within political parties.

The communiqué emphasised that credible elections remains the bedrock of democracy, and lamented that electoral malpractice, vote-buying, violence and result manipulation continue to erode public confidence in the electoral system.

The diocese urged the full deployment of technology, including electronic collation and direct transmission of results from polling units to central servers.