Former Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, has said that while Christians may belong to different political parties and support different political strategies, the church must not become an electoral machinery for any political party.

Fayemi spoke on Saturday while addressing the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria plenary in Osogbo, Osun State, on the theme, “Faith in Action: Empowering the Catholic Laity for Active Political Participation Ahead of the 2027 General Election.”

Speaking on the role of Catholics in politics, Fayemi said it was not to impose a Christian theocracy but to transform society by putting their faith into action rather than submitting to blind loyalty based on ethnicity or religion.

Fayemi said, “The role of a Catholic in politics is not to impose a Christian theocracy. Conversion by coercion is not part of our political engagement. The 2002 Doctrinal Note recognises the legitimate autonomy of the political sphere and makes clear that the church does not prescribe one specific political solution to every temporal question.

“This implies that Catholics may legitimately belong to different political parties and support different political strategies, provided these are compatible with faith and the moral law.

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“The church cannot become an electoral machinery for any political party.”

As the 2027 elections approach, the former governor stressed that it was imperative for Catholics to participate in politics, but said such participation should not be driven by “ethnicity, religion, personal financial gain, political patronage, friendship, family connections, fear, misinformation or blind loyalty to political parties.”

Rather, he said Christians should align with candidates whose policies were most capable of “advancing human dignity, justice, peace, security, development and the common good.”

He admonished, “Catholics must approach the 2027 elections bearing in mind that our political and electoral choices have huge consequences for the common good and well-being of society.

“We must, therefore, not lose sight of the church’s consistent teaching that our participation in political and electoral processes is not merely a civic responsibility but also an opportunity to promote, protect, and advance the common good.”

He urged Christians to look out for candidates with concrete plans to address poverty, unemployment, education, healthcare, security, justice and the vulnerable.

“As the election draws close, every political programme must be judged by how it affects human beings. This implies that the laity should pay particular attention to how these programmes affect poverty, unemployment, education, healthcare, security, justice, the family and the vulnerable.

“For Catholics, these are moral issues and as such our political participation must be to address them,” Fayemi said.

He bemoaned rampant vote-buying, urging the church to greatly sensitise parishioners on the dangers of vote-buying and its consequences for their future.

He noted that with vote-buying, elections became an investment for politicians who would assume office with the intention of recouping their money, leaving the electorate scrambling for crumbs.

Rather than seek immediate gains, Fayemi urged restraint, saying the people should instead be keen on evaluating those elected into office to determine their fate going forward.

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