NACL Law Week 2026: President Says Nigeria Must Build an Electoral System Citizens Can Trust By Raymond Enoch

Lawyers under the aegis of the National Association of Catholic Lawyers (NACL), Abuja Chapter, thronged the Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Maitama, on Monda 22nd June 2026 for a solemn Flagship Mass marking the commencement of the Association’s Law Week, a week-long programme focused on justice, democracy, and national development.

The opening Mass, officiated by Rev. Fr. Bede Okolie, drew Catholic legal practitioners, members of the judiciary, and the faithful who gathered to seek divine guidance as the Association begins a series of spiritual, humanitarian, and intellectual engagements.

Preaching from the Gospel of Matthew 7:7, Fr. Okolie urged Catholic lawyers and other believers to continually present their needs, aspirations, and concerns before God with unwavering faith, stressing that God remains attentive to the prayers of His people. He challenged legal practitioners not to be discouraged by Nigeria’s prevailing socio-economic and political challenges but to rise to the demands of the moment by defending truth, justice, and the common good.

Speaking exclusively with our correspondent shortly after the Mass, President of NACL Abuja Chapter, Barr. Obinna D. Ogbuagu, Esq., said this year’s Law Week theme, “Electoral Democracy in Nigeria and the 2026 Electoral Act,” was deliberately chosen in response to growing national concerns over the country’s electoral process.

According to him, the aftermath of the 2023 presidential election and the intense litigation that followed exposed significant issues within Nigeria’s electoral jurisprudence, making it imperative to critically examine whether recent amendments to the Electoral Act have genuinely addressed the country’s electoral challenges or merely treated their symptoms.

He explained that the Association intends to use its annual St. Thomas More Public Lecture as a platform to interrogate the strengths and shortcomings of the Electoral Act while stimulating informed national conversations capable of strengthening democratic governance.

Ogbuagu noted that beyond academic discourse, the Association hopes the public lecture will produce practical recommendations that could further improve the Electoral Act and inspire greater public confidence in future elections.

He added that the programme would also educate Nigerians on their constitutional rights, civic responsibilities, and active participation in the democratic process, describing voter enlightenment as a critical ingredient for credible elections.

The NACL President further disclosed that the Association has remained actively involved in promoting transparent elections through sustained civic advocacy and election monitoring in partnership with the Nigerian Bar Association, the Justice, Development and Peace Commission (JDPC), and other civil society organisations.

According to him, Catholic lawyers see themselves as key stakeholders in safeguarding Nigeria’s democracy by defending the rule of law and promoting accountability at every level of governance.

Beyond electoral advocacy, Ogbuagu said the Association’s mission extends to humanitarian and social justice interventions that directly impact vulnerable Nigerians.

He revealed that the Law Week also features prison advocacy programmes where indigent inmates without legal representation receive pro bono legal services, while convicted inmates unable to pay court-imposed fines are assisted financially to regain their freedom.

He disclosed that members of the Association will also embark on hospital visitations, including an outreach to Kunwar General Hospital, as part of efforts to demonstrate compassion and solidarity with the sick.

In addition, he said the Association continues to provide legal support to the Catholic Church whenever necessary while championing the rights of vulnerable and oppressed members of society whose fundamental human rights have been violated.

Ogbuagu maintained that the activities underscore the Association’s commitment to making lawyers true agents of justice and moral leadership.

“A lawyer must remain the moral compass of society and should always strive to uphold justice in the image of Christ,” he said, noting that the Association remains guided by its enduring motto, “Justice… Through Christ!”

The 2026 Law Week is expected to feature public lectures, humanitarian outreach, legal advocacy programmes, health visits, and other community service initiatives designed to reinforce the role of faith-based legal professionals in strengthening democracy, advancing justice, and promoting national development.