Matthew Hassan Kukah, the Catholic bishop of the Sokoto Diocese, has strongly urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to hold credible and transparent elections in Nigeria, cautioning that if democracy in the country stagnates, it may become isolated while the rest of Africa progresses.
At the 2025 Leadership Annual Conference and Awards in Abuja, with the theme “Political Stability and Sustainable Development in Africa in an Increasingly Unstable Global System,” my remarks Kukah emphasized how urgent political responsibility and election change are.
To the audience’s cheers, he said, “By God, by whatever means, give us clean and credible elections.”
Nigeria is essential to Africa’s political stability, according to Kukah, who convened the high-level gathering. He said the continent could not prosper if its most populous country continued to wallow in political turmoil.
“Without Nigeria, a plan to restore Africa’s greatness cannot move forward,” he stated.
But Africa as a whole won’t wait for Nigeria. They won’t wait for us to choose whether to broadcast the election results streaming, via videocast, telecast, or podcast.
Kukah emphasized the strategic significance of Africa in the global struggle for resources and cautioned that although big nations are shifting their stances, the continent is still unprepared and underrepresented.
“The boys in Washington are talking about critical minerals,” Kukah stated.
The biggest challenge facing America today is how to handle these minerals, which are necessary for the nation’s construction and industrialization. They are rebuilding their mining ecosystems, investing in mining, and safeguarding their mining businesses.
He bemoaned Africa’s lack of representation in international decision-making, even though the continent is the source of many of these highly sought-after commodities.
“We are not at the table,” he said. Africa is once again the primary location on the agenda as the superpowers consider what appears to be a new Berlin Conference.
Kukah cautioned that internal unrest and faulty election procedures would only serve to erode Africa’s reputation internationally.
He added, “Other countries are advancing in their dominance while Africa is drowning in its own blood and solidifying its weakness.
The rest of Africa won’t wait for us to give up to bewilderment. We have to do it correctly.
He called on political leaders to make sure that the results of elections represent the desire of the people, not just the procedures involved in compiling and disseminating the results.
Kukah also utilized the occasion to promote cross-sectoral cooperation in Nigeria’s development, pointing out that advancement necessitates integrity, creativity, and shared accountability.
“This meeting is about Nigeria, where we are, what we have learned, and where we are heading,” he stated. We honor dedication, faith, and tenacious service to this country—not perfection.
