Imo Catholic priest apologises for singing Peter Obi campaign song in church

A Catholic priest in Imo State has apologised after a video of him singing a campaign song associated with Peter Obi during a church service went viral.
The apology
Rev. Fr. Finbarr Chukwu, who is attached to St. Dominic's Secondary School, Ugiri, in Isiala Mbano Local Government Area, explained himself in a letter dated 4 November 2026, addressed to the Catholic Bishop of Okigwe Diocese, Most Rev. Solomon Amatu, fellow priests, the faithful and the public. He said the incident happened during a thanksgiving service attended by a family and some people linked to a political campaign. When some of them began singing campaign songs, he said, he joined in spontaneously without considering how it would be seen.
Regret
He said he later recognised the implications of his action and had advised those present to respect the sanctity of church functions by keeping politics out of religious events.
Background
Obi, now the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), is a Catholic and has a strong following in the South-East. The video spread widely amid heated campaigning ahead of the 16 January 2027 election.
- Fr. Finbarr Chukwu says he joined in spontaneously.
- He wrote to the Bishop of Okigwe.
- He urged people to keep politics out of church.

