By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa
The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, on Thursday delivered a forceful call to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure credible elections, warning that Nigeria’s democratic failings could isolate the country as the rest of Africa forges ahead.
Kukah spoke 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.”
In an impassioned appeal that drew applause from participants, the cleric said Nigeria must urgently fix its electoral process amid lingering disputes over provisions of the Electoral Act.
“By God, by whatever means, give us clean and credible elections,” he declared.
Chairing the occasion, Kukah placed Nigeria’s democratic challenges within the context of a rapidly evolving global order, warning that Africa is once again becoming the focus of geopolitical rivalry as major powers compete for control of critical mineral resources.
“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.”
He lamented that although Africa holds much of these resources, it remains largely excluded from high-level global conversations shaping their exploitation.
“We are not at the table,” Kukah warned. “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.”
According to him, without political stability anchored on credible elections, Nigeria risks undermining not only its own future but also Africa’s broader quest for relevance in a turbulent global system.
“A roadmap to make Africa great again cannot proceed without Nigeria,” he 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.”
In an apparent reference to controversies surrounding result transmission in previous elections, Kukah stressed that technical debates must not overshadow the core obligation of transparency and integrity.
“The rest of Africa will not wait for us to surrender to confusion. We must get it right,” he added.
The bishop painted a sobering picture of a continent grappling with internal conflicts and instability even as global powers intensify competition for influence and resources.
“While Africa is drowning in its own blood and consolidating its weakness, other nations are moving forward in their domination,” he said.
Despite his stark warnings, Kukah described the conference as an opportunity for introspection and constructive dialogue.
“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 event was designed to celebrate resilience, innovation and service, stressing that national progress requires collaboration among government, the private sector, civil society and communities.
“We celebrate excellence, not perfection — commitment, faith and resilient service to this nation,” Kukah said.
