Cardinal Onaiyekan warns INEC chief Joash Amupitan to hold free elections, saying President Tinubu won’t tie his hands or force him.
Archbishop John Cardinal Onaiyekan has issued a direct message to the head of the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan.
Speaking during a public gathering held to discuss electoral honesty and governance in Nigeria, the senior cleric advised the election chief to stand firm on his integrity and organize free, fair, and transparent voting processes across the nation.
He urged the electoral boss to use his high office to fix the deep trust issues that citizens currently have with public institutions and political processes.
The respected man of God explained that public officers must stop using the president as an excuse whenever elections fail to meet acceptable standards.
He pointed out that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will not personally prevent any election manager from doing what is right under the laws of the land.
The cleric reminded the electoral chairman that the burden of organizing clean elections rests squarely on his shoulders and the officers working under him across all thirty-six states of the federation.
Urging the electoral chairman to do his work with a clear conscience and maintain complete independence, Cardinal Onaiyekan declared:
“Do the right thing; President Tinubu will not tie your hands or put pressure on you.”
The veteran religious leader stressed that Nigerian citizens have grown tired of broken promises, election rigging, bad voting machines, and questionable results that force candidates to spend years fighting in election petition tribunals.
He stated that true peace and development can only return to the country when citizens know for sure that their votes count at polling booths without any manipulation.
He cautioned that ignoring the real complaints of the masses will only worsen social and economic conditions across the nation.
Addressing the continuous denial of political problems by top government officials and politicians, the cleric insisted that leaders must accept the truth if they sincerely want the nation to move forward.
Emphasizing the need for honesty and truthfulness in leadership, Cardinal Onaiyekan stated:
“We should refuse to agree that this is a country where certificates are forged and it is okay. We should refuse to accept a situation where elections are rigged and you are told to go to court. These things have consequences.”
He further noted that admitting past mistakes made during previous voting cycles is not a sign of weakness, but a necessary step to build public confidence before the next general elections arrive.
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He prayed for divine guidance upon leaders while urging everyday citizens to remain steadfast in demanding honesty and fairness from all public institutions.
Reassuring the audience of his faith in the people of the country, he added:
“Accept that they have a very heavy trust deficit. Nothing wrong with admitting did not go so well. If we don’t tell the truth, we will not move forward.”
This message comes as the electoral umpire prepares its staff, updates voting systems, and consults with community stakeholders ahead of future governorship and general elections.
Jennifer Baba is a journalist, international news correspondent, and writer at Moderncrux, where she covers artificial intelligence, fintech, emerging technologies, global politics, and international affairs. Based in Nigeria, she is passionate about transforming complex global developments into clear, engaging stories that inform and inspire readers.
