Cardinal and former Archbishop of Abuja, John Onaiyekan, has expressed concern over the credibility of Nigeria’s electoral process ahead of the 2027 general elections, warning that the current administration may be determined to retain power “by all means.”

Onaiyekan raised the alarm during an appearance on Prime Time on Arise Television on Friday, following a recent meeting between President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the leadership of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) at the State House, Abuja.

The CBCN delegation, led by its president, Archbishop Matthew Ndagoso, had earlier presented an address to the president outlining concerns about the state of the nation, including economic hardship and insecurity.

Responding to the bishops during the meeting, President Tinubu defended his administration’s performance, stating that the economy was stabilising and noting that the era of prolonged strikes by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) had come to an end.

The president also maintained that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) remains neutral, while dismissing his political opponents as “afraid of their own shadows and the uncertainty in the companies they keep.”

Reflecting on the meeting, Onaiyekan said the bishops deliberately presented a candid assessment of the country’s situation, emphasising that Nigeria was “bleeding” and that economic challenges were severely affecting ordinary citizens.

“I was not surprised that he was not looking very happy, nor even his colleagues who were there,” Onaiyekan said.

“We knew that this was different from the kind of statements that our president keeps receiving from many people. That is one of the things that worries us, that there are so many people around him giving a rosy picture of the country, which it is not.”

According to the cleric, the bishops felt a responsibility to present the reality of the situation, even if it was uncomfortable.

He noted that President Tinubu disagreed with their assessment, insisting that the country was not in distress and that the economy was performing well.

“Practically speaking, he told us quite clearly that he did not agree with us,” Onaiyekan added.

The cardinal also expressed concern about the conduct of future elections, particularly in 2027, warning that the government’s access to vast resources could undermine the integrity of the process.

“We are worried about the fact that we see clearly that our government is bent on winning by all means,” he said.

“Unfortunately, they have a lot of means at their disposal to win. Even if we had a free and fair election, the votes of the people may not count.”

He cautioned that failure to ensure credible elections that reflect the will of Nigerians could create serious challenges for the country’s democracy.