By Adekunle Oluwafunmilayo
Archbishop Emeritus says voter apathy will worsen if citizens view the 2027 outcome as predetermined; calls for stronger INEC independence and peaceful conduct in the Osun governorship election.
The Archbishop Emeritus of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, has warned that Nigeria risks a severe crisis of voter apathy and weakened democratic legitimacy if citizens enter the 2027 general elections believing the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is guaranteed to retain power regardless of public participation.
Speaking on Frontline, a current affairs program on Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese-Ijebu, the Catholic cleric emphasized that public confidence in the electoral system must be restored to safeguard governance and democracy.
According to Cardinal Onaiyekan, widespread skepticism regarding election fairness threatens to alienate millions of voters.
“My fear is that if it becomes very clear to Nigerians that no matter what happens, the APC will win, then most people won’t even bother to go to the election. And even if the government wins, it will not amount to a real victory because it will be difficult to deliver good governance,” he warned.
He asserted that the quality of leadership is directly connected to the credibility of the process that produces it.
“Genuine democracy is built on free, fair, and credible elections. Bad elections lead to bad governance, and bad governance leads to misery among the people,” Onaiyekan said, urging authorities to rebuild public trust before 2027.
Reflecting on Nigeria’s political evolution, Onaiyekan noted that democratic leaders derive their mandate directly from the electorate.
“When we were under military rule, they never claimed to govern in our name.
Today, elected leaders say they govern on behalf of Nigerians, so citizens have every right to demand accountability,” he stated.
The cleric stressed that electoral credibility relies on more than just the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). He highlighted the conduct of security agencies during polls as a key factor influencing voter confidence, alleging that intimidation by security personnel remains a persistent concern.
Onaiyekan also renewed his call for structural reforms regarding how electoral officials are selected.
“We know the government appoints INEC. We must find a better system because it is difficult to convince people that the process is completely fair when the ruling government appoints those who supervise elections,” he argued.
Addressing the upcoming August 15 Osun State governorship election, where he recently joined the National Peace Committee in facilitating a peace accord, Onaiyekan acknowledged the limitations of past agreements.
“Every peace accord has always been an act of faith. We hope politicians will honour what they sign, but sadly reality often proves otherwise,” he remarked.
He pointed out the unique political dynamic in Osun State, noting that the incumbent governor commands significant grassroots support on a smaller party platform, while the APC holds central influence as the federal ruling party. Warning against mutual allegations of voter intimidation, he appealed to political actors to restrain themselves and allow citizens to vote freely without fear or coercion.
