Onaiyekan says South-East voters should choose presidential candidate without governors’ interference

Catholic Archbishop Emeritus of Abuja, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, says voters in the South-East should be allowed to choose their preferred presidential candidate without pressure or direction from state governors.

Onaiyekan made the comments during an interview with Afia TV in Enugu while responding to questions about political messages from Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

Soludo has publicly argued that the South-East should engage strategically in national politics and has expressed support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election.

Onaiyekan said governors should not determine how citizens cast their ballots and argued that voters should be free to exercise their own political judgment.

The cleric also called for broader electoral reforms.

Among his proposals was a requirement that a presidential candidate secure at least 50 per cent of votes cast before being declared winner.

He also advocated a more independent process for appointing the leadership of the Independent National Electoral Commission and said election petitions should ideally be concluded before successful candidates assume office.

His comments add to the continuing debate over the political direction of the South-East ahead of the 2027 election.