Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
Cardinal John Onaiyekan has called on Nigeria’s political actors, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies to ensure that citizens are able to freely choose their leaders in the 2027 general elections without fear, harassment or intimidation.
The former Catholic Archbishop of Abuja made the call in Abuja while receiving a delegation from the Savannah Centre for Diplomacy, Democracy and Development and the Council of the Wise, led by former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola. Onaiyekan urged politicians and electoral stakeholders to respect the rules governing elections and allow Nigerians to exercise their constitutional right to determine who represents them.
Onaiyekan also turned attention to the role of security agencies during elections. He said their responsibility should be to create a safe environment where voters can go to polling units without feeling threatened, rather than conduct that could generate fear among citizens. He called for professionalism and cautioned against intimidation and harassment, arguing that the heavy display of security presence can sometimes discourage people from coming out to vote.
The cleric further stressed that political competition should not turn elections into a battle for survival. He said politicians, the government and INEC all have responsibilities within the electoral system and that adherence to established rules would help create conditions for free, fair and credible elections. His comments come as political activities surrounding the 2027 elections continue to gather momentum, with parties and prospective candidates already positioning themselves ahead of the polls.
Onaiyekan’s remarks reflect his broader concerns about Nigeria’s electoral development and the need to place voters at the centre of the democratic process. At the recent All Nigeria Editors Conference, he argued that elections are ultimately meant to ascertain the will of the people and questioned practices that could limit citizens’ ability to vote according to their individual consciences. He also raised concerns about the roles of political actors, security agencies, INEC and the judiciary in ensuring that elections are properly conducted and disputes are fairly resolved.
As preparations for 2027 continue, the message from the cardinal is that the ballot should remain a peaceful means through which Nigerians express their political choices. He has called on those involved in the process to respect the voter’s right to make that choice, while urging security agencies to protect the electoral environment without creating unnecessary fear. For Onaiyekan, the credibility of an election is not simply about announcing a result; it also depends on whether citizens were able to participate freely and without intimidation.
