John Cardinal Onaiyekan, Archbishop Emeritus of Abuja, has spoken about the 2027 general election, stressing the need for reforms that would strengthen the credibility of Nigeria’s electoral process.
Onaiyekan made the remarks during an interview from 12:30 on Channels TV on Friday, September 25, 2026, while discussing the state of Nigeria’s democracy and the need to place citizens’ choices at the centre of elections.
Commenting on the 2027 election, Onaiyekan said, “Amupitan has promised us that he will give us a pleasant surprise in 2027; we are waiting.”
He made the statement while reflecting on preparations for the next general election and the changes he believes are necessary to improve the country’s electoral system.
According to the Archbishop Emeritus, electoral institutions must be allowed to operate independently and transparently to ensure that political contestants can participate under fair conditions.
He also stressed that the credibility of elections remains important to the democratic process because elections give citizens the opportunity to choose their leaders and evaluate their performance.
Onaiyekan identified several issues requiring attention, including political interference, the deployment of security personnel during elections and lengthy legal disputes arising from electoral outcomes.
He further proposed that a presidential candidate should secure at least 50 percent of votes cast before being declared the winner.
Where no candidate meets the threshold, he suggested that a second round should be held between the two candidates with the highest number of votes.
Onaiyekan said such reforms could give the eventual president broader endorsement from Nigerians and strengthen public confidence in the outcome of elections.
He called for continued efforts to improve Nigeria’s electoral framework and strengthen the democratic process ahead of the 2027 general election.