John Cardinal Onaiyekan, the Archbishop Emeritus of the Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja, argues that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) lacks true independence as long as the president maintains the power to appoint its leadership.
During an appearance on Arise Television’s ‘Prime Time’ program, the cleric discussed national issues ahead of the 2027 general elections. He specifically addressed recent remarks by President Bola Tinubu, who claimed during a meeting with the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria that INEC remains neutral.
Onaiyekan disputed this assertion, emphasizing that the current political structure prevents the commission from functioning independently. He noted that because the president selects the chairman and all commissioners, the process is compromised. The cleric argued that although the president might intend to choose impartial individuals, in practice, the roles are filled by active politicians and members of the ruling party.
