Onaiyekan warns APC against creating ‘Inevitable victory’ perception ahead of 2027

By Jude Opara

The Archbishop Emeritus of the Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, has cautioned that Nigerians may boycott the 2027 general elections if they come to believe that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is certain to retain power regardless of the outcome of the vote.
Speaking on Monday during a programme on Eagle 102.5 FM in Ilese-Ijebu, the Catholic cleric said public confidence in the electoral process is essential for democracy to thrive, warning that a widespread perception of a predetermined result would discourage voter participation and weaken the legitimacy of any government elected.
According to Onaiyekan, democracy can only produce good governance when elections are genuinely free, fair and credible, stressing that flawed elections inevitably lead to poor leadership and hardship for citizens.
He lamented that Nigeria has yet to conduct what he described as a truly free and fair election, attributing declining voter turnout to growing public distrust in the electoral system.
He urged those in authority to rebuild confidence in the process ahead of the 2027 polls and ensure that more Nigerians participate in choosing their leaders.
The Cardinal also called for reforms to strengthen the country’s electoral system, arguing that the current method of appointing the leadership of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) raises questions about the body’s independence.
He further expressed concern over the role of security agencies during elections, alleging that their conduct sometimes intimidates voters and affects the credibility of the process, even where the electoral umpire is impartial.
Onaiyekan maintained that both institutional reforms and credible elections are necessary to improve governance, insisting that elected officials must remain accountable to the people since they govern through a democratic mandate.