In a series of interviews with various Nigerian newspapers, Catholic Archbishop Emeritus of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan; former Nigerian Bar Association President, Mazi Afam Osigwe (SAN); and political economist, Prof. Patrick Utomi, shared their concerns over the potential for court-decided elections in 2027.
According to Vanguard News, Onaiyekan, Osigwe, and Utomi stressed that democracy is weakened when the courts become the arena in which electoral victories are finally decided. They argued that this trend undermines the integrity of the democratic process, as voters’ decisions should be respected and upheld at the polling stations.
This warning comes amid growing concerns about the fairness and transparency of Nigeria’s electoral system. The 2023 general elections were marked by allegations of vote-rigging, violence, and other irregularities, which led to widespread protests and calls for reforms.
The upcoming 2027 elections will be crucial in determining the direction of Nigeria’s democracy. It is essential that they are conducted freely and fairly, with the outcome determined at the polling stations, as Onaiyekan, Osigwe, and Utomi have emphasized.
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