2027: Regardless of process, conduct free, fair, credible elections, Kukah urges INEC

By Ochiaka Ugwu

The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Bishop Mathew Hassan Kukah has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to give Nigerians free, fair and credible elections in 2027 regardless of the method used in transmitting the results.
Kukah who made this known in his address as chairman of the 18th LEADERSHIP Annual Conference and Awards 2025 Ceremony in Abuja Thursday themed “Political Stability and Sustainable Development in Africa in an Increasingly Unstable Global System: A Roadmap for Nigeria.” called for clean, fair, free and credible elections that would meet the aspiration of Nigerians no matter the method used in transmitting the results.
He highlighted the urgent need for political stability as basis for sustainable development.
According Kukah: “The rest of Africa can no longer wait until Nigeria has surrendered its sovereignty to bandits or drowned in fratricidal blood.
“The rest of Africa will not wait for murderers, whose only roadmap is blood and death. The rest of Africa will not wait for us to decide whether we will transmit, transform, relay, dispatch, disseminate, or transfer the results of our elections by podcast, by telecast, by videocast, or by live stream.
“By God, by whatever means, give us clean and credible elections,” he stated.
He also spoke on international debates on democracy, civilization, and development, emphasizing the ongoing challenges facing Africa.
“While Africa is unraveling, consumed by the return of suicidal internal wars, the world is now defined by those who will fund or become partners in what Trump referred to as the struggle to make America great again. Africa is once again the main menu on the table.”
He cautioned that Africa’s progress cannot be stagnated by internal disputes or fractured governance.
Also speaking, Nigerian First Lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu said the nation’s future depends on national unity, service and collective purpose of Nigerians.
While showing gratitude as she received an award at the Conference, Sen. Tinubu made a strong appeal for cohesion across political, cultural and religious divides.
Mrs. Tinubu said Nigeria’s progress depends on its ability to remain united amid growing global and domestic challenges.
She said, “The future of our nation depends on our willingness to work together across cultural and religious differences for the good of all. For a house divided against itself cannot stand.
Mrs. Tinubu described the award as a shared recognition rather than a personal achievement.
She said the award was for those who had helped her along the way, especially women, young people and community leaders who work tirelessly every day to uplift others and ignite hope in the nation.
The event was attended by former First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, Dr. Amina Mohammed, governors of Imo, Kaduna, Nasarawa, Yobe and Zamfara states, lawmakers; traditional rulers; and senior government officials.