The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Hassan Kukah, has issued a strong call to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure transparent and credible elections in Nigeria, warning that democratic stagnation could isolate the country as the rest of Africa advances.
Speaking in Abuja at the Leadership Annual Conference and Awards 2025, themed “Political Stability and Sustainable Development in Africa in an Increasingly Unstable Global System”, Kukah stressed the urgency of electoral reform and political accountability.
“By God, by whatever means, give us clean and credible elections,” he declared to applause from the audience.
Kukah, who chaired the high-level event, described Nigeria as central to Africa’s political stability, saying the continent could not thrive if its most populous nation remained in political disarray.
He said, “A roadmap to make Africa great again cannot proceed without Nigeria.
“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.”
Highlighting Africa’s strategic importance in the global race for resources, Kukah warned that while major powers are recalibrating their positions, the continent remains unprepared and underrepresented.
Kukah said, “The boys in Washington are discussing critical minerals.
“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.”
Despite being the source of many of these sought-after resources, he lamented that Africa is absent from global decision-making.
He noted, “We are not at the table. While the superpowers are reviewing what looks like a new Berlin Conference… Africa is again the main venue on the table.”
Kukah warned that internal instability and flawed electoral processes would only continue to weaken Africa’s global standing.
He further stated, “While Africa is drowning in its own blood and consolidating its weakness, other nations are moving forward in their domination.
“The rest of Africa will not wait for us to surrender to confusion. We must get it right.”
He urged political leaders to ensure that elections reflect the will of the people, not just the mechanics of result collation and transmission.
Kukah also used the platform to advocate for cross-sectoral collaboration in Nigeria’s development, noting that progress demands honesty, innovation, and shared responsibility.
He said, “This conference is about Nigeria, where we are, what we’ve learned, and where we are going. We celebrate excellence, not perfection; commitment, faith, and resilient service to this nation.”