Cardinal Onaiyekan Warns of Voter Apathy for 2027 Elections

John Cardinal Onaiyekan, the Archbishop Emeritus of Abuja, stated during an interview on Frontline, a current affairs programme on Eagle 102.5 FM in Ilese-Ijebu, Ogun, that any belief among Nigerians that the All Progressives Congress (APC) would win the 2027 elections could result in voter apathy. He expressed concern that such a perception would discourage voter participation and undermine the legitimacy of the government formed after the elections.

Onaiyekan highlighted that recent elections have shown a growing distrust in the electoral system, which must be addressed before the next general election. He insisted that restoring public confidence in the electoral process is crucial for improving governance, as democracy thrives on free, fair, and credible elections.

He noted that Nigeria has yet to conduct a truly free and fair election and linked low voter turnout to public disillusionment. Onaiyekan called for efforts to ensure that at least 50% of Nigerians participate in voting, emphasizing that genuine democracy relies on accountability through periodic elections.