Cardinal Onaiyekan Critiques Tinubu's Election Strategy

Archbishop Emeritus of the Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, accused President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's administration of being determined to secure victory in the 2027 general election by any means necessary. Onaiyekan made these remarks during an interview with Arise News following a meeting between President Tinubu and members of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) at the State House in Abuja.

He expressed concern that the government seemed focused on winning the next election, warning that a failure to conduct a free and fair poll could lead to serious problems for Nigeria. Onaiyekan stated, “We see clearly that our government is bent on winning by all means,” and noted that the bishops informed the President about the severe economic hardships faced by Nigerians, which Tinubu rejected, claiming the economy was doing fine.

Onaiyekan emphasized the bishops' duty to convey their message, despite the President's disagreement.