Loading ...ENUGU, NIGERIA — The Catholic Diocese of Enugu has strongly distanced itself from a controversial political rally organized to endorse President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a swift and decisive reaction, the church leadership warned organizers against dragging the sacred institution into partisan politics, maintaining that the Catholic Church remains a father to all political entities.
The Spark: A Controversial “Catholic” Coalition
The controversy erupted following widespread publicity for an upcoming political mobilization event tagged a “Grand Endorsement Rally.” The event was aggressively promoted by a group operating under the aegis of the Coalition of Catholic Faithful.
The group had publicly announced plans to gather thousands of members to endorse the 2027 ambitions of both President Tinubu at the federal level and Governor Peter Mbah at the state level.
However, the announcement triggered immediate friction within the religious community, forcing the Enugu Diocese to issue an official disclaimer to protect its ecclesiastical integrity.
“We Are Not Partisan” — Church Clears the Air
Through an official statement released by the Diocesan leadership, the church clarified that it has neither authorized nor given its blessings to any political group to use the name of the Catholic Church for partisan gain.
The statement emphasized that while individual members of the church reserve the right to participate in politics as Nigerian citizens, using the umbrella of the “Catholic Faithful” to stage endorsement rallies is entirely unacceptable.
“The Catholic Church is a universal institution that accommodates individuals across all political divides. The Diocese does not endorse political candidates, nor does it allow its name to be used as a platform for political campaigns or endorsements,” the statement read in part.
The 2027 Momentum and Regional Politics
This development comes amid a wave of recent political movements across Enugu State, where various stakeholders have been organizing endorsement rallies for the incumbent governor and the president. Just weeks prior, similar endorsement events were held by political stakeholders in Enugu West and Enugu East senatorial districts.
However, the attempt to loop the influential Catholic Church into the political machinery has hit a brick wall. Political analysts note that the church’s swift rejection highlights the highly sensitive nature of religion in Southeastern politics, especially as alignment strategies for the 2027 elections begin to take shape.
Warning to Organizers
The Enugu Catholic Diocese warned the organizers of the rally to desist from using Catholic insignia, titles, or names to give a false impression of Church backing. The leadership urged all parish priests and church organizations across the state to remain vigilant and ensure that church property is not converted into political campaign grounds.
As of the time of filing this report, the coordinators of the Coalition of Catholic Faithful have yet to release a statement on whether they will proceed with the rally under a different name or cancel the event entirely.
Stay tuned to 247ureports as we bring you updates on this unfolding political drama.
