By Terna Chikpa, Jalingo
The Catholic Diocese of Jalingo on Monday commenced moves aimed at addressing election irregularities and ensuring credible democratic processes that would attract good governance in Taraba State.
At its 22nd Biennial General Assembly held in Jalingo, the Church expressed concern that flawed electoral processes were negatively impacting society before, during, and after elections. It called for the adoption of credible, fair, and just processes in the interest of the masses.
Most Rev. Charles M. Hammawa, Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Jalingo, disclosed during the event themed “Church–State Partnership for Credible Elections in Taraba” that the initiative was designed to foster collaboration between the Church and the State in ensuring credible democratic processes and governance.
According to the Bishop, both institutions can work together to enhance, promote, and ensure peaceful coexistence and meaningful development of society.
“While working with the clear understanding that there is a separation of Church and State, the fact remains that both can collaborate to enhance, promote, and ensure peaceful living and meaningful development of society and the world. This includes elections that bring about government, which are sadly more often questionable, contentious, and flawed than free and fair in our experience in Nigeria as a whole,” he said.
“The idea of this partnership is for the Church and State to relate, work together, and collaborate in ensuring credible democratic processes and governance. We want to ensure that the processes leading to elections and those after elections in Taraba State are credible, fair, and just.
“We are looking beyond just elections to the wider scope and context of partnership,” the Bishop explained.
Bishop Hammawa also insisted that although the Church does not engage in partisan politics, it has a critical mission of educating and mobilising its faithful on their political rights, duties, and responsibilities.
“While the Church is not involved in partisan politics, it has the critical mission of educating and mobilising its faithful and all people on their political rights, duties, and responsibilities. The Social Teaching of the Church (STC) makes this a very critical and indispensable priority, just as the spiritual apostolate is also important,” he said.
He called on members of the Church to embrace unity and put aside divisions rooted in ethnicity, race, or political differences.
“By its nature and mission, the Church is universal. It is not committed to any one culture, political, economic, or social system. Hence, it can serve as a close bond among various communities and nations, provided they trust the Church and guarantee it true freedom to carry out its mission.
“We call upon our members and all people to put aside divisions and consolidate legitimate human organisations built on justice and peace.
“The Church desires nothing more ardently than to develop itself freely in the service of all people under any regime that recognises the basic rights of the person and the family,” Hammawa added.
He further clarified that the Church would not engage in campaigns for political parties or candidates seeking elective offices, nor would it endorse any party or individual.
“When we speak about Church–State partnership, it should not be interpreted to mean that the Church will engage in campaigns for political parties or candidates. It is not about endorsing parties or individuals, but about ensuring credible electoral processes and guaranteeing good governance in Taraba State.
“It is primarily about education and enlightenment. The Church engages and reminds lay people to participate in the right ordering and building of the temporal order in truth, justice, and peace, as it is their exclusive domain.
“It is also about challenging government and its agencies saddled with the responsibility of preparing and conducting elections to do so fairly and justly, without fear or favour.”
He urged the state government to see the Church as a ready and willing partner in promoting good governance.
In a paper presented by the Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Jos, Rt. Rev. Prof. Msgr. Cletus T. Gotan, the cleric recommended the rejection of vote-buying, describing it as a betrayal of dignity and the future.
Rev. Gotan insisted that the Church must remain non-partisan but not morally silent.
“As we emphasise the role of the Church in promoting electoral integrity in Taraba State, I recommend that the Church intensify voter education at the grassroots. We must reject vote-buying. It is a betrayal of dignity and the future.
“We must remain non-partisan but never morally silent. The Church does not endorse candidates, but it must boldly preach integrity, justice, and accountability.
“There must be principled collaboration between Church and State. Through dialogue with electoral bodies, security agencies, and civil society, we can support peaceful and credible processes without compromising our prophetic independence,” he said.
He also called for the promotion of inter-religious harmony and resistance to any attempt to weaponise ethnicity or religion during elections.
“In a diverse state like Taraba, we must actively promote inter-religious harmony and resist attempts to weaponise ethnicity or religion during elections.
“Our youth must be mentored not to become instruments of violence or manipulation, but ambassadors of peaceful participation and ethical leadership,” Rev. Gotan added.
Among participants at the event were former Governor of Taraba State, Jolly Nyame; the Kuru Kona, HRH Augustine Vankani; representatives of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC); and other stakeholders, who praised the initiative.
They expressed optimism that the move would help improve democratic processes ahead of the 2027 general elections in Taraba State.
Meanwhile, Governor Agbu Kefas, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Chief Gibon Kataps, commended the Catholic Church for its vision to help redefine governance in the state.
Kefas pledged the state government’s support to ensure free, fair, credible, and transparent democratic processes that would truly reflect the mandate of the people.
