Cardinal Onaiyekan Advocates for Igbo Voting Freedom

Cardinal John Onaiyekan, the Catholic Archbishop Emeritus of Abuja, asserted that the people of the South-East should be allowed to select their presidential candidate freely, without interference from state governors. This statement was made during an interview with Afia Tv in Enugu on Thursday, in response to Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo's recent remarks urging Ndigbo to avoid "wasting" their votes and advocating for strategic political engagement.

Soludo has publicly endorsed President Bola Tinubu for the 2027 election. Onaiyekan emphasized that voters should have the autonomy to make their own choices, stating, “It is not the duties of governors to teach, to tell people how they should vote.” He highlighted that governors also have the right to vote and should not pressure others.

Additionally, Onaiyekan called for reforms in Nigeria's electoral system, including requiring a presidential candidate to secure at least 50 percent of votes cast to be declared the winner and advocating for an independent process for appointing INEC leadership.