By Austin Ehikioya
Former Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, and the Council of the Wise, led by former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, have called on the Independent National Electoral Commission and political stakeholders to ensure that Nigerians are allowed to freely choose their leaders in the 2027 general elections.
Onaiyekan made the call on Monday in Abuja when he received a delegation of the Savannah Centre for Diplomacy, Democracy and Development and the Ariwoola-led Council of the Wise.
He urged INEC, political parties, candidates and the government to respect the rules governing elections and ensure that the electoral process is free, fair and credible.
The cleric also appealed to security agencies to remain professional during the elections, warning against conduct that could heighten tension or turn the country into a “war zone” because of political contests.
According to him, all political actors, including the government and INEC, must play by the rules if Nigerians are to have confidence in the electoral process.
“There’s not much one can do, but all we can do is to remind people about the basic principles of a free, fair, and credible election,” Onaiyekan said.
He urged political competitors and the electoral umpire to respect the rules, stressing that the government, being affiliated with a political party, must also conduct itself responsibly.
Onaiyekan also expressed concern that Nigeria’s electoral process had not improved significantly since the return to democratic rule in 1999.
He said the declining participation of voters remained a major concern, adding that the credibility of the 2027 elections would depend largely on the willingness of political actors and electoral officials to do the right thing.
He referred to the assurance by the INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, that the commission would deliver free, fair and credible elections, urging him to remain independent.
“Don’t tie your own hand. Do the right thing. The President says you are free. He’s not going to put undue pressure for you to do the wrong thing,” he said.
Onaiyekan also dismissed the notion that technology alone would guarantee credible elections, arguing that strict adherence to existing electoral rules remained fundamental.
“You don’t need AI to have a free and fair election. We have rules that are practical. Let them do that,” he said.
He urged Nigerians to protect their right to choose their leaders, noting that elections provide citizens with an opportunity, once every four years, to determine who governs them.
The former archbishop further commended the National Peace Committee for its efforts to promote peaceful elections, including the signing of electoral accords by political actors.
He, however, expressed concern that some politicians had violated commitments made under such agreements, while maintaining hope that the 2027 elections would be an improvement.
Earlier, the Council of the Wise appealed to Onaiyekan to intensify his advocacy for peaceful, free, fair and credible elections ahead of 2027.
Ariwoola said political campaigns should be conducted without hate speech, rancour or inflammatory statements capable of triggering violence.
