The Archbishop Emeritus of the Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, has warned that voter turnout in the 2027 general elections could decline sharply if Nigerians believe the outcome has already been decided in favour of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Speaking on Monday during a programme on Eagle 102.5 FM in Ilese-Ijebu, Ogun State, the cardinal said public perception of electoral fairness is just as important as the voting process itself.
According to him, if citizens lose confidence in the credibility of elections, many will see no reason to participate in the democratic process.
“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,” Onaiyekan said.
“And even if the government, the real power wins, it will not bring a real victory actually. And it is not going to be possible to deliver good government.”
‘Credible Elections Produce Good Governance’
The cleric stressed that democracy can only thrive where elections are genuinely free, fair and transparent.
He argued that credible elections are essential for producing accountable leadership and effective governance.
“Genuine democracy is built on free and fair elections. Any democracy that cannot conduct free, fair and credible elections cannot produce good governance.
“Elections have consequences. Bad elections lead to bad governance, and bad governance leads to misery among the people,” he said.
Onaiyekan lamented that Nigeria has yet to conduct what many citizens would regard as a truly free and fair election.
He attributed the country’s low voter turnout to widespread public disillusionment and urged the government to restore confidence in the electoral process before the 2027 polls.
“It is in our interest, and in the interest of the government that has all the powers, to ensure that the trust of the people in the electoral process is restored, so that we can get at least 50 per cent of Nigerians voting,” he added.
Security Agencies, INEC Need Reforms
The cardinal said the credibility of elections depends not only on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) but also on the conduct of security agencies deployed during elections.
According to him, intimidation by security personnel has continued to undermine public confidence in the electoral process.
“Even if INEC is neutral, election outcomes are also affected by the activities of security agents who claim to be securing the election but often end up intimidating voters with sirens and heavy security presence. That does not happen in mature democracies,” he said.
He also called for comprehensive electoral reforms, particularly regarding the appointment of INEC’s leadership.
According to Onaiyekan, allowing the government in power to appoint the electoral commission raises concerns about impartiality and weakens public trust.
“We know that the government in power appoints the INEC. We have to find a way around that because it is difficult to have a level playing field when the ruling government appoints the electoral umpire, unless you have a very courageous INEC chairman who can resist every form of pressure,” he said.
The cardinal concluded by urging political leaders and electoral stakeholders to strengthen democratic institutions and guarantee transparent elections capable of inspiring public confidence ahead of the 2027 general elections.
