Visit to Shehu Sani: ‘We were misled’, Catholic Women apologise to Church

Women representatives of Zumuntan Mata Katolika of the Catholic Archdiocese of Kaduna have rejected any suggestion that their participation in an engagement with Kaduna Central Senatorial aspirant, Senator Shehu Sani, amounted to an endorsement of his political ambition or the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The clarification was contained in a public notice signed by the President of Zumuntan Mata, Alice J. Bawa; Secretary, Bako Justina; and Chaplain, Rev. Fr. Stephen P. Dogo, following the September 6, 2026 engagement with the former senator. Blueprint reports

The women, drawn from Sabon Tasha, Romi and Makera Deaneries alongside the Archdiocesan leadership, said the encounter should not be interpreted as an endorsement of Sani, the APC or any other political candidate or party by the Catholic Church, Kaduna Catholic Archdiocesan Laity Council or Zumuntan Mata Katolika.

In the statement titled, “Disclaimer and Public Notice: Zumuntan Mata Is Not a Political Platform,” they said the organisation remains firmly rooted in the teachings, discipline, values and ecclesial structures of the Catholic Church.

Why the meeting was held

According to the women, the encounter followed an invitation extended by Sani to representatives of the three metropolitan deaneries, namely Makera, Romi and Sabon Tasha.

They explained that Sani had previously visited other metropolitan deaneries during their annual conferences but did not have the opportunity to visit the three deaneries involved in the September 6 engagement.

The invitation was therefore understood by the women as an opportunity for interaction with members of the three deaneries.

They, however, said the meeting subsequently assumed a political dimension which they claimed they were not adequately informed about before attending.

‘We were misled’

The women alleged that they were “misled into a political spectacle under false pretences,” insisting that Zumuntan Mata was never established and would never become a political mobilisation platform for any candidate, political party or political interest.

They said they were mobilised by a woman whom they trusted and were made to understand that the engagement was for a different purpose.

According to them, they participated without knowing that the gathering would be used as a political platform or that their presence could subsequently be presented as political endorsement or campaign support for Sani.

They said the circumstances surrounding their participation made it necessary to publicly clarify their position and dissociate the organisation from any political interpretation arising from the encounter.

Catholic organisation, not political platform

The women explained that Zumuntan Mata Katolika is an organ of the Kaduna Catholic Archdiocesan Laity Council.

As a Catholic lay organisation, they said it remains firmly connected to the teachings, discipline, values and established ecclesial structures of the Catholic Church.

They stressed that its collective identity cannot be appropriated for partisan political mobilisation.

The women also drew a distinction between the political rights of individual Catholic faithful and the collective position of the Church.

Members free to support candidates

They acknowledged that individual members of the Catholic laity are free to support any political candidate or party in their personal capacity.

However, they maintained that an individual’s political preference does not constitute the position of the Church or its lay organisations.

They further stressed that no individual has the authority to use the collective name, identity or sacred uniform of the Church to endorse a political figure or party.

The clarification, they said, was particularly important because the participation of members of Zumuntan Mata at the engagement could otherwise be misconstrued as an institutional endorsement.

Reaffirm allegiance to Catholic Church

The women reaffirmed their “unwavering allegiance” to the Catholic Church and the legitimate ecclesiastical authority of the Catholic Archdiocese of Kaduna.

They pledged to continue working harmoniously with the hierarchy of the Archdiocese, the Kaduna Catholic Archdiocesan Laity Council and the wider Catholic community.

They said their participation in civic and democratic activities would continue to be guided by their Catholic identity, respect for the dignity of every person, responsible citizenship, peace, justice and the common good.

According to them, engagement in democratic and civic activities does not amount to partisan alignment and must always be conducted in a manner consistent with the values and dignity of the Church.

Women accept responsibility, apologise

Despite their claim that they were not adequately informed about the political dimension of the engagement, the women acknowledged that their lack of knowledge did not constitute an excuse.

They said they were taking full responsibility for their actions and inactions and expressed humility and remorse over their participation.

“While we were deceived of the political dimension of the visit, ignorance is not excuse,” they stated.

The women subsequently apologised for the consequences of their participation, particularly the embarrassment, concern and discontent which their presence at the event had caused the Archbishop, priests, religious, Church leaders and the entire Catholic laity.

They said their apology was an expression of remorse and recognition of the need to uphold the authority, integrity and dignity of the Church.

Reject political affiliation

While accepting responsibility for their participation, the women firmly rejected any political affiliation or endorsement that may be inferred from the meeting with Sani.

They demanded respect for what they described as the non-partisan integrity and dignity of the Church’s societies, stressing that Zumuntan Mata Katolika would not be transformed into a political mobilisation platform.

They reiterated that the organisation’s future participation in civic and democratic activities would remain guided by its Catholic identity and commitment to peace, justice, responsible citizenship, human dignity and the common good.