Lagos LG Poll: Participate actively in politics, cleric tells Christians

From Dotun Omisakin, Lagos Ahead of the Lagos State Local Government Election scheduled for Saturday, July 12, a non-governmental organisation, Centre for Politics and Governance (CPG), has called for greater participation of the Christians in the political process. This comes as the group alleged marginalisation of Christians in the recently concluded primaries for the local […]

From Dotun Omisakin, Lagos

Ahead of the Lagos State Local Government Election scheduled for Saturday, July 12, a non-governmental organisation, Centre for Politics and Governance (CPG), has called for greater participation of the Christians in the political process.

This comes as the group alleged marginalisation of Christians in the recently concluded primaries for the local council elections in Lagos State.

Speaking during a press briefing in Lagos, the President of CPG, Bishop Stephen Ogedengbe, said the organisation has received numerous complaints from aggrieved aspirants, many of whom alleged religious imbalance and exclusion in the outcome of recent party primaries.

He noted that the selection processes of some political parties, including the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Labour Party, were marred by protests over the alleged imposition of candidates and lack of transparency.

“If you have Christian representation less than 10 percent, on the day of election, many of them will be in their bedrooms. That’s strong voter apathy and a sign of rejection,” he said.

Ogedengbe urged Christian organisations and faith-based groups across all denominations to unite in fostering political awareness and engagement within their communities, emphasizing the need for fair representation and inclusiveness in governance.

“We are not calling for dominance; we are asking for balance. Irrespective of their religion, there should be equitable opportunities. Our goal is to ensure fairness in the democratic process,” he added.

Reinforcing the call to action, the Director-General of CPG, Bishop Theophilus Ajose, stressed the importance of grassroots political involvement by Christians.

He disclosed that the organisation is mobilizing its structures across all local governments in Lagos to encourage Christians to join political parties and participate fully in political activities.

“You can’t be a candidate if you are not a party member. We are encouraging Christians not just to vote but to become active participants in politics,” he said.