The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure that Nigeria conducts transparent and credible elections in 2027, warning that continued electoral shortcomings could leave the country behind as other African nations move forward.
Speaking on Thursday at the Leadership Annual Conference and Awards 2025 in Abuja, themed “Political Stability and Sustainable Development in Africa in an Increasingly Unstable Global System: A Roadmap for Nigeria,” Kukah made an emphatic appeal for integrity in the nation’s electoral process.
“By God, by whatever means, give us clean and credible elections,” the cleric declared, drawing applause from participants at the event.
As chairman of the occasion, Kukah framed Nigeria’s democratic challenges within the context of shifting global power dynamics. He noted that Africa is once again becoming a focal point of global competition, particularly over critical mineral resources essential for industrial and technological advancement.
“The boys in Washington are discussing critical minerals,” he said. “America’s greatest task now is how to deal with these minerals , the elements required to build and industrialise their country. They are investing in mining, protecting their mining companies, and rebuilding their mining ecosystems.”
According to Kukah, although Africa holds a significant share of these resources, it remains largely sidelined in key global discussions that determine its future.
“We are not at the table,” he warned, adding: “While the superpowers are reviewing what looks like a new Berlin Conference in major cities of the world to consolidate their domination, Africa is again the main venue on the table.”
He stressed that Nigeria’s internal political stability ;particularly the credibility of its elections , is central not only to its own future but also to Africa’s broader relevance on the global stage.
“A roadmap to make Africa great again cannot proceed without Nigeria,” Kukah said.
“But the rest of Africa will not wait for Nigeria. They will not wait for us to decide whether we transmit election results by podcast, telecast, videocast or livestream.”
Without directly referencing specific past electoral disputes, the bishop cautioned that debates over result transmission methods must not distract from the core principles of transparency and integrity.
“The rest of Africa will not wait for us to surrender to confusion.We must get it right,” he added.
Kukah further described Africa as a continent struggling with internal conflict and instability at a time when global powers are intensifying their strategic interests.
“While Africa is drowning in its own blood and consolidating its weakness, other nations are moving forward in their domination,” he said.
Despite the challenges, he maintained that forums like the Leadership Conference provide an opportunity for reflection and meaningful dialogue about Nigeria’s direction.
“This conference is about Nigeria , where we are, what we’ve learned, and where we are going,” he noted. “It is about honest conversations around political stability and sustainable development in a world that is becoming increasingly unstable.”
He added that the awards segment of the gathering aims to recognize dedication, innovation, and service, emphasizing that sustainable national progress requires cooperation across sectors.
“We celebrate excellence, not perfection , commitment, faith and resilient service to this nation,” Kukah said.
