Onaiyekan calls for electoral reforms, stronger media role Ahead of 2027

Archbishop Emeritus of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, has called for wide-ranging electoral reforms and greater media independence to strengthen Nigeria’s democracy ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Onaiyekan made the call on Thursday while delivering the keynote address at the 22nd All Nigeria Editors Conference (ANEC 2026), organised by the Nigerian Guild of Editors in Enugu.

The conference, which attracted more than 500 editors and other stakeholders, is themed “The Ballot, the Media and the Task of Keeping Democracy Alive,” with a sub-theme focused on detecting and debunking artificial intelligence-driven disinformation before, during and after elections.

Onaiyekan said democracy must ultimately serve the people and promote the common good, arguing that Nigeria could not afford to accept weaknesses in its electoral system as permanent features of democratic governance.

He identified politicians’ conduct, federal character and zoning, the independence of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), government neutrality, the role of security agencies and the handling of electoral disputes by the judiciary as major areas requiring attention.

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According to him, political contests are often treated as struggles for power and access to wealth, while citizens are reduced to “pawns” in political contests.

He also questioned the independence of INEC, noting that the commission is established and funded by the government while those in government can themselves be contestants during elections.

Onaiyekan proposed seven reforms for consideration by the next National Assembly.

They include changing the process for appointing INEC’s chairman and commissioners to strengthen the commission’s independence; establishing specialised election tribunals to dispose of disputes quickly; and giving voters, in addition to candidates, the right to challenge disputed election results.

He also called for electoral cases to be concluded before elected officials are sworn in, arguing that prolonged litigation after inauguration could undermine confidence in the process.

The cleric further advocated the legal recognition of independent candidates, particularly at the local government level, and proposed that presidential candidates should secure at least 50 per cent of votes cast, with a run-off between the two leading candidates where no contender reaches the threshold.

He also called for stricter rules on lawmakers who defect from the political parties on whose platforms they were elected, proposing that such legislators should return to their constituencies to seek fresh mandates.

Onaiyekan said the proposed reforms might not be implemented before the 2027 elections but urged the next National Assembly to consider them as part of longer-term electoral reform.

The Cardinal also challenged the media to use its constitutional role responsibly to strengthen democracy.

He urged journalists to report government policies and actions critically where necessary while maintaining professional independence from political, corporate and financial interests.

He described a free press as essential to genuine democracy and urged Nigerian media organisations to deploy their relative freedom responsibly in promoting accountability and the common good.

On artificial intelligence, Onaiyekan acknowledged the opportunities created by emerging technologies but warned of their potential dangers if left without adequate human oversight.

He urged editors to combine technological innovation with professional standards, knowledge and responsibility as Nigeria approaches another electoral cycle.

Onaiyekan said democracy remained difficult to perfect but urged Nigerians not to abandon efforts to build a system in which leaders are freely chosen and governance is directed towards the common good.

He also called on religious leaders to promote values of good governance rather than seek political patronage, saying faith communities could contribute positively to democratic development.