From Magnus Eze, Enugu
Bishop of Nike Diocese, Anglican Communion, Enugu State, Christian Onyia, has rebuked traditional rulers and religious leaders over their alleged ignoble role in the just concluded general election in the country.
Onyia also said the polls, to a large extent, did not meet the credibility criteria.
The bishop stated this in his Bishop’s Charge at the 2nd Session of the 6th Synod of the Diocese at the Church of the Beatitudes, Trans Ekulu, Enugu.
The cleric also decried the appalling direct involvement and partisanship of traditional rulers and religious leaders in the just-concluded elections, adding that it is despicable and condemnable.
He said: “Some church leaders turned the pulpit as a place to campaign for political parties and their preferred candidates.
“In some other places, traditional rulers who are known supporters of the ruling party, imposed midnight curfews to perform ‘Oro’ rights, slaughtered animals and strategically placed the sacrifices at voting centre to scare voters.”
Onyia noted that clearly, most politicians, by their actions, believe the judiciary cannot dispense justice anymore; adding that the new slogan of ‘go to court’ by someone who is aware that electoral fraud had been committed raises integrity risk on the judiciary.
The bishop said: “I encourage the judiciary to rise to the occasion and redeem its battered image by dispensing justice without fear or favour.
“This will not only boost the confidence of voters/Nigerians in our judiciary and electoral process, but will also increase their turn out rate in next elections.”
He said the institutions of government must be and be seen to be transparent, accountable to the people and impartial.
He declared that it was more honourable to accept defeat in a competition if the process and the resultant outcome are seen to be fair, open and credible.
Onyia said it remained unfortunate that the 2023 elections, to a larger extent, did not meet the credibility criteria, adding that most of the provisions of the new electoral law on the conduct of elections were not met.
“Apparently, there is a lack of political will to implement the law,” he said.