Summary: Former Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, has issued a powerful call to INEC and political stakeholders to guarantee free and fair elections in 2027. Here’s what he said and why it matters for every Nigerian.*
As Nigeria begins to cast its eyes toward the 2027 general elections, one of the country’s most respected religious voices has spoken — and his message is clear, direct, and impossible to ignore.
John Cardinal Onaiyekan, the former Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, has strongly urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and political actors across the board to ensure that Nigerians are allowed to freely choose their leaders at the polls in 2027.
A Voice the Nation Cannot Afford to Ignore
Cardinal Onaiyekan is not a man who speaks carelessly. Over decades of public life, he has earned a reputation as one of Nigeria’s most courageous moral voices — someone who calls things exactly as they are, whether in the church, the corridors of power, or the court of public opinion.
His latest call is both timely and necessary. With memories of past elections — marred by ballot snatching, voter intimidation, manipulation of results, and outright disenfranchisement — still fresh in the minds of millions of Nigerians, the Cardinal’s message strikes at the very heart of our democratic struggles.
The Core of His Message
At the centre of Onaiyekan’s appeal is a simple but powerful truth: the will of the Nigerian people must be respected.
For too long, many Nigerians have watched helplessly as their votes were manipulated, their choices overturned, and their voices silenced by powerful political interests. The Cardinal is essentially reminding INEC and political stakeholders that democracy is not a game to be played by the elite — it is a sacred covenant between the government and the governed.
Why 2027 Matters So Much
The 2027 elections are shaping up to be one of the most consequential in Nigeria’s history. With widespread economic hardship, growing public frustration, and increasing demands for accountability, ordinary Nigerians are more politically aware than ever before.
From Lagos to Maiduguri, from Enugu to Sokoto, Nigerians across all geopolitical zones are watching closely. The question on everyone’s lips is simple: Will my vote count this time?
Cardinal Onaiyekan’s intervention reminds us all — INEC officials, politicians, security agencies, and every Nigerian citizen — that the answer to that question must be a resounding yes.
A Call to Action for All Stakeholders
This is not just a message for INEC alone. It is a challenge to:
– Political parties — to prioritise the interest of Nigerians over personal ambitions and godfatherism
– Security agencies — to protect voters rather than intimidate them
– Civil society organisations — to step up their election monitoring efforts
– Every Nigerian citizen — to register, come out, and exercise their civic right without fear
The Bigger Picture
Nigeria is Africa’s most populous nation and its largest economy. When our democracy thrives, the entire continent feels it. But when elections are rigged, manipulated, or violently disrupted, we do not just fail ourselves — we set back the cause of democracy across Africa.
Cardinal Onaiyekan understands this. His voice, like that of many other well-meaning Nigerians, is a reminder that we deserve better — and that 2027 is an opportunity to prove that we can get it right.
As Nigerians, we have the power to demand transparent, credible elections. Cardinal Onaiyekan has spoken. Now, the ball is in INEC’s court — and in ours.
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