The Archbishop Emeritus of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, has called for comprehensive electoral reforms ahead of the 2027 general elections, warning that declining public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process could discourage voter participation and weaken democratic governance.
Speaking on Monday during an interview on Frontline, a current affairs programme on Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese-Ijebu, Ogun State, the Catholic cleric stressed that democracy can only flourish when citizens believe elections are free, fair and credible.
Onaiyekan expressed concern that if Nigerians perceive the outcome of the 2027 presidential election as predetermined in favour of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), many eligible voters may choose to stay away from the polls.
“My fear is that if it becomes very clear to Nigerians that, no matter what happens, the APC will win, then most people won’t even bother to go to the election. And even if the government, the real power, wins, it will not bring a real victory, actually. And it is not going to be possible to deliver good government,” he said.
He argued that rebuilding public trust in the electoral process should be a national priority, noting that increased voter participation is essential for strengthening democratic institutions and ensuring governments enjoy broad public legitimacy.
According to the Cardinal, persistent voter apathy in recent elections reflects growing public scepticism about whether votes truly count.
“Genuine democracy is built on free and fair elections. Any democracy that cannot conduct free, fair and credible elections cannot produce good governance. Elections have consequences. Bad elections lead to bad governance, and bad governance leads to misery among the people,” he stated.
Onaiyekan maintained that Nigeria still has significant work to do in strengthening its electoral system, adding that greater confidence in the process could encourage at least half of eligible Nigerians to participate in elections.
“I think it is in our interest, and in the interest of the government, which has all the powers, to make sure that the trust of the people in the electoral process is restored so that we can get at least 50 per cent of Nigerians voting. If the electoral field is seen to be fair and equal for everybody, then people will know that their votes will count,” he said.
The cleric noted that democratic governments derive their legitimacy from the electorate and must therefore remain accountable through periodic elections.
“When we were under military rule, we didn’t talk about elections, and the military boys who were ruling us didn’t claim to be ruling in our name. Now we are under democracy, and the rulers say they are governing in our name. We can’t keep quiet when people claiming to be working in our name are not,” he added.
Drawing comparisons with long-established democracies such as the United Kingdom, Onaiyekan said peaceful alternation of power strengthens democratic institutions and promotes national development.
He explained that competitive elections provide citizens with meaningful choices while encouraging governments to remain responsive to the needs of the people.
On the role of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Onaiyekan said credible elections extend beyond the activities of the electoral commission, pointing to the conduct of security agencies as another critical factor.
“Even if INEC is neutral, as you know, the election outcome is also affected by the activities and performance of the security agents who claim to be securing the election but often end up intimidating people with sirens all over the place, which doesn’t happen in decent democracies,” he observed.
He renewed calls for reforms that would further strengthen the independence of INEC, particularly regarding the process for appointing its leadership.
“We know that the government in power appoints INEC. We have to figure a way around that because if the government in power appoints INEC, then it is difficult to have a fair contest unless you have a very strong INEC chairman who decides to stand up against all pressures,” he said.
Commenting on the forthcoming Osun State governorship election, Onaiyekan reflected on his recent role in leading the National Peace Committee to facilitate the signing of a peace accord among participating political parties.
While acknowledging that previous peace agreements have not always prevented election-related violence, he described the accords as important moral commitments capable of encouraging political actors to embrace peaceful conduct.
“From the very beginning, the first attempt at signing these accords that the National Peace Committee has always facilitated has been an act of faith. You simply hope that what you are doing will make sense, but every time we have been disappointed because the reality on the ground goes contrary to the accord they signed,” he said.
The Cardinal also appealed to political leaders to place national interest above personal ambition and ensure that citizens are able to vote freely without intimidation.
“We are only praying and hoping that peace will prevail and that the ordinary people will be allowed to cast their votes while politicians hold back and do not destroy the entire process because of their own political ambitions,” he said.
