Yola Catholic Bishop Opens Lent with Call for ‘Fasting from Evil’; Issues Ultimatum on 2027 Election Transparency

Yola Catholic Bishop Opens Lent with Call for ‘Fasting from Evil’; Issues Ultimatum on 2027 Election Transparency

The Christian season of Lent commenced on a solemn yet politically charged note on Wednesday as the Catholic Bishop of Yola Diocese, Most Rev. Stephen Dami Mamza, urged the faithful to embrace a period of profound spiritual renewal while simultaneously issuing a stark warning to Nigeria’s electoral authorities regarding the 2027 general elections.

Presiding over the Ash Wednesday Mass—which marks the beginning of the 40-day Lenten period of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving—Bishop Mamza called on Christians to harness what he described as a “divine coincidence” for the transformation of Nigeria.

In his homily, delivered to a packed congregation, the Bishop highlighted the rare convergence of two major religious observances: the Christian Lent and the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. He encouraged believers to look beyond mere ritualistic fasting from food and instead focus on a deeper, societal cleansing.

“This is a time of grace, a divine coincidence where both Christians and Muslims are in a period of sacrifice and prayer,” Bishop Mamza said. “I encourage the faithful to take advantage of this moment to harness that collective spiritual energy—not just to fast from food, but to fast from evil. Let us fast from corruption, from hatred, from character assassination, and from every vice that has held our nation captive.”

He added that the spiritual exercises of both faiths should translate into tangible change for Nigeria. “If we truly deny ourselves, our prayers and sacrifices must be for the transformation of our nation. We must pray for an end to insecurity, for economic healing, and for leaders who fear God.”

However, the Bishop’s message took a decidedly political turn as he addressed the country’s electoral future. Bishop Mamza, known for his outspoken stance on good governance, used the platform to advocate for a specific, non-negotiable reform ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He demanded the real-time electronic transmission of election results directly from polling units, arguing that transparency at the source is the only way to guarantee the credibility of the democratic process.

“We must move beyond the debates and demand accountability,” the Bishop stated emphatically. “I am adding my voice to the call for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure that in 2027, results are transmitted in real-time from the polling units. We must see the results at the point of counting before they are manipulated along the chain.”

In a striking personal declaration, Bishop Mamza warned that a failure to implement such transparency measures could lead to widespread voter apathy, including his own.

“If there is no provision for real-time transmission of results from the polling units, it might discourage me and many others from participating in the 2027 elections,” he cautioned. “Why would we go through the stress of voting if our votes will not count? Why would we sacrifice our time and peace if the process is not transparent? The Church will continue to preach peace, but we must also advocate for justice and truth, which begin with free and fair elections.”

The Bishop’s remarks resonate with ongoing national debates about the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral system, echoing concerns raised during the 2023 general elections regarding technical glitches and result collation processes.

As the congregation received the ashes—a symbol of mortality and repentance—the Bishop’s dual message served as a powerful reminder of the Church’s role in guiding both the spiritual and civic lives of its followers. The Lenten season, he concluded, must be a period of genuine conversion that inspires Nigerians to become active agents of change in the quest for a more just and transparent nation.