Leaders of the Catholic, Anglican, Methodist, Baptist, and African Churches in Osun State have called on eligible voters to take ownership of the nation’s democratic process, stressing that God has empowered citizens to effect change themselves and will not do for them what they can achieve through the ballot.

The high-ranking clerics also advocated for mass participation in the electoral process and called for peaceful coexistence among Nigerians before, during, and after the forthcoming elections.

The call was made at an ecumenical service held at St. Benedict Catholic Cathedral, Popo, Osogbo, where bishops and representatives of the Catholic, Anglican, Methodist, Baptist, and African Churches gathered to pray for Osun State and urged Christians to collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and participate actively in the electoral process.

Specifically, they urged voters in Osun State to take seriously the August 8, 2026, governorship election, warning them against apathy and selling their votes.

Speaking at the special religious worship, the Catholic Bishop of Osogbo Diocese, Most Rev. John Oyejola, said God has already given humanity the capacity and responsibility to shape society, noting that voting is one of the practical ways believers can renew the face of the earth.

“God will never come down to do for us what we can do for ourselves. He has given us the necessity, the propensity, and the potential to make things happen. That is why He says we are the salt of the earth and the light of the world,” he said.

Oyejola described voting as both a civic and moral obligation, warning that failure to vote by those who are eligible amounts to sin, while selling one’s PVC is an even greater moral failing.

He declared, “If you are of age and you refuse to vote, you are committing a sin. If you sell your PVC, you are committing a greater sin. What we do today is not just for us, but for our children and our children’s children.”

Oyejola urged Christians to collect and safeguard their PVCs and to vote for candidates capable of serving the country responsibly and reducing hardship among citizens.

In his remarks, the African Church Bishop of the Osun Central Missionary Diocese, Rt. Rev. James Bamidele, cautioned citizens, particularly youths, against allowing themselves to be used for violence or electoral malpractice.

“Politicians will come to buy your votes and your conscience. Do not join bad caucuses that will make things chaotic. Go out on election day, cast your vote, defend it peacefully, and refuse to sell your PVC,” Bamidele said.

Earlier in his sermon titled “Jesus Christ, Our Model,” Bishop Bamidele reminded worshippers that temptation is inevitable, noting that even Jesus Christ was tempted. He explained that while temptation itself is not sin, yielding to it is, urging Christians to resist inducements that compromise their faith and civic responsibility.

Representing the President of the Osun Baptist Conference, Rev. Dr. Olubunmi Obalade and Rev. Dr. Sunday Ajekigbe encouraged eligible voters to collect their PVCs, stressing that voter registration had closed and that possession of the card is essential to fulfilling one’s civic duty.

“If you don’t have your voter’s card, you may not be able to perform your responsibility as a citizen,” they said, while also cautioning church leaders against directing congregants toward any political party, given the diversity of political affiliations within churches.

The Anglican Bishop of Osogbo Diocese, Rt. Rev. Dr. Folusho Babatunji, represented by Ven. Sam Akinlawon, urged Christians to act as agents of peace before, during, and after the election. He warned against involvement in violence and encouraged believers to carry “the gospel of peace” at all times.

Similarly, the Methodist Bishop, Rt. Rev. Dr. Olu Arinola, represented by Rev. Samson Oluwafeyitimi, called on citizens to be careful and responsible, encouraging them to collect their PVCs, vote conscientiously, and combine prayer with responsible civic action.

The ecumenical service represents a unified stance by mainline churches in Osun State to promote peaceful participation in the democratic process, as the clerics pledged continued engagement with their congregations to uphold peace, integrity, and responsible citizenship for the betterment of the state. (Guardian)

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