Cardinal John Onaiyekan, Archbishop Emeritus of Abuja, has questioned the credibility and seriousness of elections conducted in Nigeria, saying governors should not determine who citizens vote for.
Onaiyekan made the remarks on Thursday, September 24, 2026, while delivering the keynote address at the 22nd All Nigeria Editors Conference organised by the Nigerian Guild of Editors in Enugu.
The conference, themed “The Ballot, the Media and the Task of Keeping Democracy Alive,” focused on the role of the media and other stakeholders in strengthening Nigeria’s democratic process.
Speaking on the country’s electoral system, Onaiyekan said Nigerian elections have not been conducted with the level of seriousness expected in a democracy.
“As far as I’m concerned, the elections we have had so far in Nigeria have not been serious,” he said.
The Catholic cleric also argued that elected governors should not use their positions to dictate voting choices to citizens, stressing that every voter, including a governor, is entitled to only one vote.
“It is not the duty of Governor Soludo or other governors to tell people who to vote for; they each have only one vote,” Onaiyekan stated.
The cleric further called for broad electoral reforms ahead of the 2027 general elections. Among the reforms he proposed are changes to the process of appointing the chairman and commissioners of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to strengthen the commission’s independence.
He also advocated measures that would give voters greater opportunity to challenge election results and ensure that electoral disputes are resolved promptly.
Onaiyekan’s comments come as political parties and other stakeholders begin preparations for the 2027 elections, with electoral reforms, voter participation and the credibility of the voting process remaining major issues in Nigeria’s political discourse.
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