Former Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, has reiterated his call for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and political actors to guarantee that Nigerians are able to freely and fairly choose their leaders in the 2027 general elections.
Cardinal Onaiyekan made this appeal on Monday in Abuja during a visit from the Savannah Centre for Diplomacy, Democracy and Development and the Council of the Wise, led by former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola.
He urged both the electoral body and political stakeholders to strictly adhere to the rules governing elections and to safeguard Nigerians’ right to freely elect their leaders. He also called on security agencies to act with professionalism during the polls and cautioned against any conduct that could provoke unrest or turn the country into a “war zone.”
Onaiyekan remarked, “There is little one can do except to remind everyone of the basic principles of free, fair, and credible elections. I hope both the political actors—including the government, since it too is a participant—and the umpire, INEC, will abide by the rules we have set for ourselves. If they do, things will work well.”
Reflecting on the efforts of the National Peace Committee, Onaiyekan noted that it had worked hard to promote peaceful elections, including organizing the signing of peace accords by politicians. He expressed concern, however, that some political actors had not honored these commitments, though he remained hopeful for a better outcome in 2027.
He added that Nigeria’s elections have not seen significant improvement since 1999. “I don’t think things have been getting better. For instance, the voter turnout figures are not encouraging. INEC chairman Professor Joash Amupitan has promised to deliver a free, fair, and credible election. My advice to him: don’t tie your own hands—do the right thing. The President says you are free from undue pressure. Everyone must take responsibility, so there will be no excuses for failing to do what is right. We don’t need AI for a free and fair election; we just need to follow our own practical rules. Nigerians deserve the right to choose their leaders every four years. Let us enjoy that right.”
During the visit, the Council of the Wise, led by Justice Ariwoola, urged Onaiyekan to continue advocating for peaceful, credible elections in 2027. The council also called on politicians to avoid hate speech, rancor, and inflammatory statements that could incite violence. Justice Ariwoola stressed the importance of all political parties and candidates abiding by their constitutions, codes of conduct, and INEC guidelines.
He said, “Your Eminence, we appreciate your fatherly role in Nigeria and ask that you redouble your efforts in appealing to politicians to heed wise counsel during the upcoming campaigns for peaceful, free, fair, and successful 2027 elections. It is also crucial for His Eminence to urge all candidates to ensure campaigns are free from rancor, hate speech, and inflammatory remarks that could provoke violence. Nigeria deserves peaceful and transparent elections in 2027.
“We would be grateful if His Eminence would join the council in appealing to party leaders to abide by their constitutions and codes of conduct to earn the trust and respect of voters. It is important to remind all candidates that, as responsible Nigerians seeking the mandate to lead, they must demonstrate exemplary conduct and inspire confidence at all times. They should ensure their parties and supporters comply fully with electoral laws and guidelines to foster a culture of integrity and trust.”
The Council of the Wise comprises distinguished Nigerians from the six geopolitical zones and is mandated to engage stakeholders, promote national unity, and strengthen democratic governance.
