Archbishop John Onaiyekan has expressed concern over Nigeria’s electoral process ahead of the 2027 general elections, warning that the country’s democracy could be at risk if elections are not genuinely free, fair, and credible.
Reacting to President Bola Tinubu’s remark that “in politics, all is fair,” Onaiyekan said, "If that is what politics is, that in politics everything can be done, provided you win election, clearly that's not correct."
The Catholic cleric said the bishops are worried because they believe the government is determined to win "by all means."
"We are worried about the fact that we see clearly that our government is bent on winning by all means. And unfortunately, they have a lot of means at their disposal to win," he said.
He warned that the situation could undermine the people's mandate, saying, "Even if we had a free and fair election, the votes of the people may not count."
Onaiyekan added that unless Nigeria's electoral system is restructured to ensure elections are "really free, fair, and credible," the country could face serious difficulties.
He also cautioned against the emergence of a one-party state, saying, "The country doesn't gain anything by one-party state in a so-called democracy."
Questioning the independence of the electoral commission, he said, "There are doubts in some quarters about how independent this electoral commission is… Words are not enough." He stressed that the commission's independence must be demonstrated through its actions, not just official assurances.
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