The Catholic Bishop of Nsukka Diocese, Most Rev. Godfrey Onah, has warned politicians against manipulating the electoral process or attempting to prevent opposition candidates from participating in the 2027 general elections.
Bishop Onah gave the warning while speaking on the forthcoming elections and the responsibilities of political office holders in a democratic system.
He said incumbents seeking re-election had no advantage beyond the opportunity to present their achievements to Nigerians and convince voters that they deserved another term in office.
“As Nigerians prepare to go through the process of selecting those who will lead us come 2027, the only advantage an incumbent has is that they can point to what they have done and try to convince us that they will do better,” he said.
“It is now left to us to decide, not by manipulating the system or stopping the opposition. Manipulate the system at your peril.”
The cleric stressed that no sitting president or governor was entitled to an automatic return to office, insisting that the decision to retain or replace elected leaders rested solely with the electorate.
He also condemned electoral manipulation, rigging and intimidation, urging political leaders to respect Nigerians’ constitutional right to freely choose their representatives.
Bishop Onah further called on Nigerians to defend the country’s democracy and resist any attempts by politicians to undermine the electoral process or frustrate opposition candidates ahead of the 2027 polls.
Dear readers, we really need your support to keep on serving you with authoritative, truthful, and juicy stories everyday. For your support, please reach out to the editor @gavelinternational66@gmail.com
