2027: Nigerians May Boycott Polls if APC Victory Appears Certain — Onaiyekan Warns

The Archbishop Emeritus of the Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, has warned that Nigerians may refuse to participate in the 2027 general elections if they believe the outcome has already been predetermined in favour of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Speaking on Monday during a programme on Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese-Ijebu, monitored by DAILY POST in Abeokuta, the cleric said public perception of electoral fairness is critical to voter participation and the credibility of any government elected through the process.

According to Onaiyekan, democracy cannot thrive where citizens lose confidence in elections.

“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,” he 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.”

The Cardinal stressed that Nigeria must restore public confidence in its electoral process, noting that credible elections are the foundation of good governance.

“Genuine democracy is built on free and fair elections. Any democracy that cannot do free, fair and credible elections cannot come up with good governance. Elections have consequences. Bad elections lead to bad governance and bad governance leads to misery among the people,” he stated.

Onaiyekan lamented that Nigeria has yet to conduct what he described as a truly free and fair election, urging those in authority to rebuild trust in the electoral system before the next general election.

He said increasing voter confidence could significantly improve participation, adding that at least half of eligible Nigerians should be encouraged to vote.

The cleric also argued that the neutrality of the Independent National Electoral Commission alone would not guarantee credible elections, pointing to the role of security agencies during polls.

According to him, the conduct of security personnel has often created an atmosphere of intimidation that undermines electoral integrity.

Onaiyekan further called for reforms in the appointment process for INEC leadership, maintaining that allowing the government in power to appoint electoral officials raises concerns about impartiality and public confidence.

He urged comprehensive electoral reforms to strengthen Nigeria’s democracy and ensure that future elections truly reflect the will of the people.