Province of the Niger tasks Anglican faithful to participate in active politics

By Chukwudi Ebele

As the Independent National Electoral Commission lifts embargo on political campaigns towards Gubernatorial elections in Anambra State many forums, groups and political parties have gone to the drawing board to strategize how their interest could best be represented at the polls.

The Nine Anglican dioceses in Anambra State that make up the Province of the Niger has embarked on sensitization cum advocacy for civic responsibility, political consciousness and active participation of Anglican Communion faithful in the Anambra State gubernatorial election that will hold November 8, 2025.

Speaking during a political summit which held at Sharon House, Onitsha, Thursday, the Director, Directorate of Civic and Political Affairs, DCPA, Anglican Diocese on the Niger, and ICT Officer Province of the Niger Political Committee (PNPC),Rev Canon Dr Ifeanyichukwu Oluchukwu Aniakor encouraged everyone up to the voting age to exercise their voter franchise to be awake to their civic responsibility and make informed choices.

“This is a summit to stimulate the interest of the Anglican church into politics and to play it the right way to the benefit of the church this time. It is a forum to create awareness, organize us to participate fully in the upcoming Governorship election.

“We have succeeded in awakening the interest and political consciousness of our people. Without this assembly they may not be much interested or understand the need all for us to participate in grassroot politics. Now everyone is participating, they are picking interest.

“In such summit people are equipped with enough information on what they should do that will also enable them make informed choices during elections. Today the job has started, the awareness and engagement has started. People are already being organized

“Anglican faithful should sit up, start now to work and take the right decision in civic participation,” said Rev Canon Aniakor.

A major Stakeholder Hon Engr Humphrey Nsofor, Chairman General PNPC and National Coordinator South East Elders Alliance for Tinubu 2027 in his proposal observed that no Governor from the Anglican church has ever been elected as Governor of Anambra State since the 1999 democratic dispensation.

Engr Humphrey Nsofor made a strong appeal for a candidate of Anglican extraction to be elected into office as Governor come November 8, 2025 in the interest of equity and fairness.

“We are here today because we feel that our people’s spirit need to be stirred up. There is need to motivate our people to be political conscious that is why we called the 9 Dioceses to come together so that we can sensitize them to wake up, and also to pray for free and fair election.

“This is an election year in Anambra State and I as an Anglican faithful is asking every other denomination to consider giving an Anglican the chance to lead Anambra State.

” We are making this plea because since Anambra State was created we have been cooperating with other denominations.

“No Anglican has been elected governor of Anambra State. This time around, we are begging our brothers and sisters in the other denominations to support a candidate from Anglican church in the spirit of Christianity, fairness and equity.

“Our God is God of equity, fairness and justice. So that people and children from our congregation will not start feeling inferior, so that the Christian spirit will be seen as been practised in Anambra State.

“We need someone who can lead with fear of God. Who will distribute the democracy dividends maintaining equity with fairness to all irrespective of your denomination.

For me, such a person should be voted into power to pilot the affairs of this state as the Governor come November 8, 2025; somebody with the spirit of God in him, a generosity fellow, somebody that cares for the downtrodden, somebody who has the courage to face the challenges of insecurity in Anambra State and fight all the vices in the society.

“We need security in this state.
We need somebody who can embrace everybody, bring Ndi Anambra together and not divide us.

“Anambra needs somebody who can galvanize the whole state and take us to the center. We need to be at the center and not remain as a one party State. Anambra people have a lot of men who are international businessmen, who are into relationship with a lot of people at the center. So, if the government at the center comes to Anambra State, you will see these businessmen progressing more, adding value to the State and bringing development too.

We want to use this opportunity to ask our bishops, clergymen, desk officers and all the laity to come together and support our own because it will benefit everybody,” said Nsofor.

According to another Stakeholder, Hon Sir Chris Chikwelu Jnr. Director of Strategy, Planning PNPC Anglicans must wake up, days of compromise are over. We can not just continue playing second fiddle in Anambra State.

” Apart from Dame Virginia N. Etiaba’s three months stint in office which came perchance, we should ask ourselves why we have not produced a Governor in Anambra State through an election because the Anglican Communion is so blessed to play second fiddle.

“Let us set a target, chart a course, we are only asking for a chance to take charge and make the change. Anglican church has what it takes to make a huge difference in this State. We must take our place in the affairs of governance of Anambra State. The tide must turn, the time is now”, he said.

Earlier in his charge, Ven. Dr. Okey Okpeke who spoke from Ezekiel 22 vs 30 said that God is always in the business of using men. “It is God’s method to use men. Gift of men has been given to the world. Anytime you lack men you are disadvantaged”.

“Although there are males but sometimes there are no prepared men who have enough burden and passion to be committed to make things happen for the well-being of their generation.
God is always searching for prepared men whom he would use to achieve specific purposes at different instances on earth”.

Moreover, the November 8, 2025 Anambra State Deputy Governorship Candidate for Labor party, Hon Mrs Ifeoma Okaroh also graced the political summit urging Anglicans not to show apathy during the coming elections because their votes will count. “You cannot get the change you desire by sitting down, you must come out and vote in the right people into office for a better and desirable Anambra State”.