Fr Sylvester Umoette, parish priest of the Assumption Catholic Church in Ukana Iba, Essien Udim Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, reportedly introduced a dress code for women requiring them to wear the traditional attire of the Annang people.
The church, located along Ikot Ekpene-Abak Expressway and once attended by the senate president Godswill Akpabio, has a diverse congregation spanning Annang, Ibibio, Efik, Ekid, Igbo and other ethnic groups.
Many opposed the dress code with a silent protest on Sunday. “The priest has insisted that women must dress strictly in traditional Annang attire, specifically two wrappers and a blouse, to be eligible for communion,” said one parishioner on condition of anonymity.
A female congregant described the practice as humiliating and divisive. “This has nothing to do with indecent dressing. You can wear a long gown, fully covered, and still be denied communion. It is painful and embarrassing,” she said.
Another parishioner said the priest routinely announces from the altar that women who do not dress like Annang women should not come forward for communion, adding that such pronouncements have forced some women to abandon the parish entirely, while others now remain seated during communion to avoid public rejection.
Ukana Iba is in the Diocese of Ikot Ekpene, which has historically emphasised inclusivity and evangelisation across ethnic lines in the diverse region. Protesters have warned that the priest’s attitude could cause spiritual and communal divisions. Church teaching holds that Holy Communion may only be withheld in cases of grave sin or canonical restriction, not on the basis of cultural attire.
Fr Mike Umoh, director of social communications at the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, distanced the Church from the practice, saying it was “surely not the Church’s position”.
“The Church, as an organ of unity and inclusivity, will not take such a stance. One wonders what is behind this narrative, if true,” he said.