Bishop Onaiyekan Calls for Proper Review of Electoral System
The Bishop Emeritus of the Archdiocese of Abuja, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, has called for a proper review of the electoral system in the country.
He made the comment, Thursday during his appearance on Channels Television Sunrise Daily. He noted that while there are still cases in court, swearing in people does not make any sense.
Speaking on fairness, Onaiyekan said: “There are cases in court that have not been disposed of. That is why we are in an anomalous situation. We have a president-elect whose election is being challenged and the court is handling it,” he said.
“I’m still waiting for the court to tell me who won the election. It doesn’t make much sense to be swearing in people when they are still in court.
“I know it has happened with governors but the outcome has really not been the best of all cases. I think we need to review our election process, so we do have a winner who will be sworn in and whom everybody would rally around.
“It is a pity that it is taking longer for the court to come to its decision. My problem is that the whole system of our election must be properly reviewed so that it would be easier for winners to emerge according to the wishes of the people.
“It is not right to have a system that is constantly contested. We should find out why is every election being contested.”
Recall that the president-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu will be sworn in as president on May 29. Meanwhile, the presidential election tribunal had fixed May 8 for the hearing of the petitions which the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party and that of the Labour Party filed against Tinubu and the Independent National Electoral Commission.