Former Archbishop of Abuja and Catholic Cardinal John Onaiyekan has expressed concern over what he described as a determination by President Bola Tinubu’s administration to remain in power at all costs, warning that such an approach could threaten Nigeria’s democratic progress.
Speaking on Arise Television’s Prime Time programme on Friday, July 31, Onaiyekan said the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) used its recent meeting with President Tinubu to raise concerns about the credibility of future elections.
The cardinal said there were fears that political control and available resources could be used to influence electoral outcomes, leaving voters uncertain about whether their choices would truly matter.
According to him, the bishops are concerned that a situation where elections are not transparent and credible could create serious challenges for the country’s democracy.
Onaiyekan also criticised what he described as the gap between the realities faced by Nigerians and the information being presented to the president by some officials and advisers around him.
He said the bishops felt it was important to communicate the challenges affecting the country directly to the president, rather than allow him to rely only on reports portraying a more positive picture of the situation.
The comments came shortly after the CBCN delegation met with President Tinubu at the State House in Abuja. During the meeting, the president defended his administration’s record, arguing that the Nigerian economy was showing signs of recovery and assuring the bishops that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) remains impartial.
Onaiyekan’s remarks have renewed discussions about electoral integrity, accountability, and the need for public confidence in Nigeria’s democratic institutions ahead of future elections.
