Kaduna Catholic Laity Council disowns Zumuntan Mata meeting with Shehu Sani

From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

The Kaduna Catholic Archdiocesan Laity Council has distanced the Catholic Church from a political engagement involving some members of Zumuntan Mata Katolika and Senator Shehu Sani, describing the meeting as unauthorised.

The Council said the September 6, 2026 meeting was neither approved nor endorsed by the Catholic Archdiocese of Kaduna, the Archdiocesan Laity Council or Zumuntan Mata Katolika.

In a statement dated September 9 and signed by its President, Engr. Joachim O. Daudu, and Secretary-General, Avong Peter Tagwai, the Council said those who attended the meeting acted without the knowledge or consent of the relevant Church authorities.

“The Catholic Archdiocese of Kaduna, its Ecclesiastical Authority, the Archdiocesan Laity Council, and the Zumuntan Mata Katolika did not authorise, approve, sponsor, endorse, or mandate the said engagement,” the statement said.

It stressed that the actions of those involved should not be interpreted as representing the political position or preference of the Catholic Church.

The Council explained that Zumuntan Mata Katolika is an organ of the Archdiocesan Laity Council and operates within the structures, teachings and discipline of the Catholic Church.

While acknowledging the right of individual Catholics to participate in politics and support candidates of their choice, it said no individual or group had the authority to use the name, identity, uniform or platform of a Church organisation for partisan political activities without ecclesiastical approval.

The Council also rejected any attempt to portray the meeting as an endorsement, mobilisation or political alignment by the Catholic Church, the Kaduna Archdiocese, the Laity Council or Zumuntan Mata Katolika.

It reaffirmed the non-partisan position of the Church and its loyalty to the ecclesiastical authority of the Archdiocese.

According to the statement, those who participated in the meeting have expressed regret, accepted responsibility and apologised for what the Council described as the “avoidable embarrassment, concern and discontent” caused to the Archbishop, priests, religious, Church leaders and Catholic faithful.

Following the incident, the Council directed all lay organisations and associations within the Archdiocese to respect established Church structures, authority and directives, particularly when engaging in activities that could be interpreted as representing the Church publicly.

It also urged political actors and members of the public to respect the non-partisan identity of the Catholic Church and avoid attributing political endorsements to it based on the actions of individuals acting without authorisation.

“The Catholic Church remains committed to responsible citizenship, peace, justice, human dignity, democratic participation and the common good, while maintaining its non-partisan character,” the Council said.