A Catholic priest, Rev. Fr. Finbarr Chukwu, has apologised after a video of him singing a campaign song associated with Peter Obi during a church service sparked reactions on social media.
Chukwu, who serves at St. Dominic’s Secondary School, Ugiri, in Isiala Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State, issued an apology in a clarification letter dated November 4, 2026.
The letter was addressed to the Catholic Bishop of Okigwe Diocese, Most Rev. Solomon Amatu, other priests, members of the Catholic Church and the general public.
Explaining the circumstances surrounding the incident, the priest said it happened during a thanksgiving service attended by a family and some people linked to a political campaign.
He explained that some members of the group started singing campaign songs during the gathering, prompting him to join in spontaneously without properly considering the possible implications of his actions.
According to him, he later recognised that his participation could be misunderstood and advised those present against introducing political activities into church celebrations.
However, he expressed regret that the video circulated online did not include the part where he cautioned the attendees to respect the religious nature of the occasion.
Chukwu insisted that his action was not driven by any political interest or support for a particular party or candidate.
He, however, admitted that singing the campaign song could give the impression that he was openly supporting Peter Obi or the political movement associated with him.
The priest further acknowledged that members of the clergy are expected to remain politically neutral and avoid actions that could raise questions about their commitment to the teachings and mission of the Catholic Church.
He expressed regret over the incident and apologised to the Church leadership, fellow priests, Catholic faithful and members of the public who may have been offended by his conduct.