Ndigbo should choose president without govs’ interference – Onaiyekan

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The Catholic Archbishop Emeritus of Abuja, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, has said people of the South-East should be allowed to freely choose their preferred presidential candidate without interference from state governors.

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Onaiyekan said this on Thursday in an interview with Afia Tv in Enugu while responding to questions about Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s recent comments on how the Igbo should vote in the 2027 presidential election.

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Soludo has in recent months urged Ndigbo to avoid what he described as “wasting” their votes, while advocating strategic political engagement by the South-East. He has also publicly backed President Bola Tinubu for the 2027 election.

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Responding to a question on Soludo’s position, Onaiyekan said he did not know what the governor had told the Igbo but insisted that voters should be allowed to make their own choices.

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“I don’t know what Soludo has told the Ndigbo. All I can say is that Ndigbo should be allowed to freely choose who should be their president.”

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The cleric argued that governors, despite being elected representatives, should not dictate how citizens exercise their franchise during elections.

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“It is not the duties of governors to teach, to tell people how they should vote.”

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Onaiyekan noted that governors themselves would have the opportunity to participate in the election by casting their own ballots, saying other voters should similarly be allowed to make their choices without pressure.

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“The governors will have their own votes now. Every governor will be able to vote. He will vote for himself. Let others do.”

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He added that elections provide citizens with an opportunity to express their political preferences and urged Nigerians to exercise that right freely.

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“At least, that’s the only opportunity that we have to express our mind. Let us do it.”

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The comments came as Onaiyekan also advocated reforms to Nigeria’s electoral system, including a requirement that a presidential candidate secure at least 50 per cent of votes cast before being declared winner. He also called for a more independent process for appointing INEC leadership and for election petitions to be concluded before elected candidates are inaugurated.

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