NIGERIA – A forged open letter circulating on social media under the name of the “Catholic Youth Association of Nigeria (CYAN)” has sparked fresh controversy, with critics alleging that it forms part of a broader pattern of document forgery linked to the All Progressives Congress (APC) and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The letter, dated August 4, 2026, and titled “Our Faith Must Rise Above Partisan Politics,” claims to speak on behalf of Catholic youths. It states that no individual cardinal, bishop, priest, or layperson speaks for all Catholics on partisan political choices and that the organisation does not collectively endorse any political party or presidential candidate.
However, on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, the authentic Catholic Youth Organisation of Nigeria (CYON) issued an official disclaimer, rejecting the document in its entirety. In a statement signed by National President Gosife Kizito Eze, National Secretary Francisca A. Adesokan, and National Chaplain Rev. Fr. Maurice Mbeke, the National Executive Council described the publication as “false, fraudulent, unauthorised and a deliberate act of impersonation.”
According to CYON, the purported “Catholic Youth Association of Nigeria (CYAN)” does not exist, and the letter did not originate from the organisation or represent its position. It further stated that the letterhead, logo, branding, and contact details used in the circulating document were fake and deliberately designed to mislead the public. The organisation also stressed that no National Officer authorised the statement.
CYON condemned what it described as an act of impersonation, reserved the right to pursue legal remedies against those responsible, and urged Catholic youths, clergy, media organisations, and the general public to disregard the publication and refrain from sharing or relying on it.
The organisation emphasised that its official communications are issued only through duly authorised National Officers and recognised channels. It also reaffirmed its fidelity to the Catholic Church and its full communion with the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN).
Following CYON’s disclaimer, critics seized on the episode, alleging that the fake letter forms part of a series of fabricated documents intended to shape public perception in favour of the APC and President Tinubu. However, CYON itself did not attribute the forgery to any political party, public official, or individual.
The purported open letter has since been widely marked “FAKE” across social media platforms following the organisation’s official rebuttal.
