Archbishop Ndagoso urges Nigerian priests to be non-partisan and charitable on social media

Archbishop Matthew Man-oso Ndagoso has urged Catholic priests in Nigeria to remain non-partisan and use social media with charity and prudence. Speaking on September 11 at the Our Lady and St. Kizito Pastoral Centre in Ede, the Archbishop of Kaduna addressed a meeting between the Catholic Bishops of Nigeria and the Nigerian Catholic Diocesan Priests Association.

The Archbishop, who serves as the president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria, told priests that their online presence should strengthen the Church's witness instead of promoting themselves or fueling division. He noted that while digital platforms provide opportunities for evangelization, priests must avoid divisive rhetoric.

During the meeting, which was part of a plenary session in the Catholic Diocese of Osogbo, the Archbishop discussed five pillars for pastoral renewal and ministerial integrity. He emphasized that priests should not act as political brokers or campaign agents. Instead, he said they are called to form consciences and guide the faithful to act with integrity.

The discussion focused on the theme of priests acting as non-partisan mobilizers for credible elections in preparation for Nigeria's 2027 general elections. Archbishop Ndagoso stated that priests should help the faithful make responsible civic choices by promoting moral principles rather than specific political parties. He encouraged priests to help people reject corruption, violence, and vote-buying.