The Catholic Bishop of Nsukka Diocese, Godfrey Onah, has described President Bola Tinubu as an emperor, warning that the 2027 general election may not be free and fair.
Onah accused political office holders and government institutions, including judges, the National Assembly, governors and local government chairmen, of aligning themselves with the President.
The cleric made the remarks in a recent video shared on X on Friday by a former chairman of the National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, Professor Chidi Odinkalu.
He questioned why elected officials and political appointees appeared to be operating on the mandate of the President rather than that of the people.
“But if you have been chosen by your people, why are they all now standing on the mandate of the president because the president has become an absolute monarch. An emperor who is not controlled by anybody or by any forces,” he said.
Onah further alleged that institutions constitutionally expected to check the President’s powers had become aligned with his administration.
“Even the institutions that should control him, judges and the National Assembly are now signing ‘on his mandate we shall stand’. The governors and local chairmen have become errand boys for the president,” he added.
The bishop expressed doubts about the possibility of credible elections in 2027, arguing that recent political developments showed signs that the process might not be free and fair.
“Everybody is saying we want free and fair election in 2027, it will not happen. The signs are everywhere,” he said.
“….if you go Court, judges are 🎤 ‘On your mandate we shall stand!'”
@GodfreyIOnah, Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Nsukka. https://t.co/x6RxpSgaf7
— Chidi Anselm Odinkalu, CGoF (@ChidiOdinkalu) November 6, 2026