John Cardinal Onaiyekan, Archbishop Emeritus of the Catholic Diocese of Abuja, has expressed strong concerns over the political trajectory leading into the 2027 general elections, warning that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu appears determined to retain power regardless of the electoral outcome.
”Unfortunately, they have a lot of means at their disposal, and they’re deploying all those means in a way that eventually, even with a free and fair election, the votes of the people may not count,” Cardinal Onaiyekan warned.
The Archbishop Emeritus stressed that the vast resources and institutional leverage available to the incumbent government risk undermining the principles of a level playing field.
According to him, the deployment of state apparatus in political contests creates an environment where formal electoral processes may be rendered ineffective in reflecting the true mandate of the electorate.
Onaiyekan’s comments reflect a growing debate within the nation’s political landscape regarding structural reforms, institutional independence, and public confidence in the electoral system ahead of the 2027 polls.
Beyond criticizing political actors, the elder statesman emphasized the duty of civic and religious institutions to speak clearly on governance issues.
He noted that addressing administrative practices and electoral transparency is fundamental to safeguarding the nation’s democratic health, urging citizens and electoral managers to ensure that upcoming elections remain genuinely transparent and reflective of the public will.
