Enugu Politics: Anglican, Catholic Bishops Dissociate Themselves From APC Campaign Council Appointments

By Ugombatulueze Ibeka |Ichie Times Political Correspondent.

& Ogonna Ezebebe |Ichie Times Metro and Religion Correspondent 

Two prominent Christian leaders in Enugu State, the Anglican Bishop of Oji River Diocese, the Rt. Rev. Dr. Ikechukwu Egbuonu, and the Auxiliary Bishop of Enugu Catholic Diocese, Most Rev. Ernest Obodo, have publicly dissociated themselves from their purported appointments into the All Progressives Congress (APC) Enugu State Campaign Council.

The two clerics, in separate official statements dated October 30, 2026, described the inclusion of their names in the party’s campaign structure without their knowledge or consent as unauthorised and misleading.

In his official disclaimer, Bishop Egbuonu stated that he was neither consulted, informed nor formally notified of his purported inclusion in the APC Enugu State Campaign Council or its Faith-Based (Christians) Directorate.

The Anglican cleric maintained that he neither applied for, consented to nor authorised anyone to enlist his name in the political structure, insisting that any publication suggesting his membership did not reflect his knowledge, consent or personal position.

He further explained that his episcopal responsibilities required him to provide spiritual leadership to all people, irrespective of their political affiliations, persuasions or choices.

While affirming his constitutional right as a citizen to exercise his personal voting choice, Bishop Egbuonu stressed that private electoral preferences must remain distinct from publicly campaigning for or representing a political party.

He consequently demanded the withdrawal of his name from any such list, publication or political arrangement, warning against further representations suggesting his participation or endorsement.

Similarly, the Catholic Diocese of Enugu, in a separate disclaimer signed by its Diocesan Chancellor and Secretary, Very Rev. Fr. Wilfred Chidi Agubuchie, condemned the reported inclusion of Most Rev. Obodo’s name as Director of the Faith-Based Campaign Group in the APC Enugu State Campaign Council.

The Diocese described the development as wholly unauthorised, misleading and unacceptable, noting that it created a false impression of the Bishop’s political disposition and threatened his ecclesiastical integrity and reputation.

It stated that Bishop Obodo strongly condemned the alleged misrepresentation and reaffirmed that the Catholic Church does not engage in partisan politics, participate in political campaigns or endorse political parties.

The Diocese emphasised that although individual Christians are free to exercise their civic and democratic rights, no individual or group should exploit the name, office or identity of the Church or its ministers for partisan political interests.

It therefore demanded the immediate removal of Bishop Obodo’s name, alongside those of other Catholic priests allegedly included without their knowledge and consent, from the campaign list and related publications.

The Catholic Diocese also warned that any continued or subsequent unauthorised use of the Bishop’s name, title, image or ecclesiastical office for partisan political purposes would attract appropriate legal action.

Both statements reaffirmed the commitment of the Christian institutions to their spiritual responsibilities, with emphasis on religious neutrality, impartiality and the provision of pastoral leadership to all, regardless of political affiliation.

The disclaimers come amid reports of the inclusion of Christian religious leaders in the faith-based structures of the APC Enugu State Campaign Council.