Catholic Archbishop Emeritus of Abuja, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, has called on Nigerians in the South-East to freely choose their preferred presidential candidate in the 2027 election without being directed by state governors.
Onaiyekan made the call during an interview with Afia TV in Enugu on Thursday while responding to questions about the political position of Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Soludo has in recent months spoken about the need for the South-East to adopt what he describes as a strategic approach to presidential politics. The governor has also publicly expressed support for President Bola Tinubu’s bid for another term.
Asked about Soludo’s position and what he had told the Igbo people concerning the election, Onaiyekan said he was not aware of the details but stressed that voters should be allowed to make their own decisions.
“I don’t know what Soludo has told the Ndigbo. All I can say is that Ndigbo should be allowed to freely choose who should be their president,” he said.
The cleric argued that elected governors should not determine how citizens vote, noting that governors themselves would participate in the election as individual voters.
“It is not the duties of governors to teach, to tell people how they should vote,” Onaiyekan said.
He added that every governor would have the opportunity to cast a ballot according to his or her preference, just as other citizens should be free to make their own choices.
“The governors will have their own votes now. Every governor will be able to vote. He will vote for himself. Let others do,” he said.
Onaiyekan said elections provide citizens with an opportunity to express their political preferences and urged voters to use that opportunity.
“At least, that’s the only opportunity that we have to express our mind. Let us do it,” he said.
His comments come amid increasing political activity ahead of the 2027 general elections, with presidential candidates and political groups seeking support across the country’s regions.
The South-East has become an important part of the political debate, with political actors expressing different views on how the region should approach the presidential election. Soludo has argued for strategic political engagement, while Onaiyekan’s latest comments emphasise individual voter choice rather than a collective decision directed by political office holders.
Beyond the 2027 election, the Catholic cleric also called for changes to Nigeria’s electoral system.
Onaiyekan advocated a system under which a presidential candidate would be required to secure at least 50 per cent of votes cast before being declared the winner. He also called for greater independence in the process of appointing members of the Independent National Electoral Commission.
The cleric further argued that election petitions should be concluded before elected candidates are inaugurated, a position that would require changes to existing electoral arrangements.
His proposals reflect broader debates in Nigeria over electoral reforms, particularly concerning the credibility of elections, independence of electoral institutions and the resolution of election disputes.
Under Nigeria’s current presidential election framework, a candidate must secure the highest number of votes and satisfy the constitutional requirement for geographical spread, rather than necessarily obtaining more than 50 per cent of all votes cast.
Onaiyekan’s remarks therefore combine a call for individual freedom of political choice with broader proposals for changes to the way presidential elections are conducted and disputed.
As political parties and candidates prepare for the 2027 election, debates over regional voting strategies, the role of governors and the independence of voters are expected to remain prominent.
The cardinal’s position, however, was that political leaders may express their own preferences, but citizens should retain the freedom to decide which candidate they support at the ballot box.
