Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Hassan Kukah, has criticised politicians who make unrealistic promises to win elections.
He said many politicians focus more on securing votes than preparing citizens for the realities of governance.
Kukah made the remarks on Thursday, November 12, 2026, at a public symposium in Abuja.
The event was organised by the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), in collaboration with The Kukah Centre.
He warned Nigerians against accepting campaign promises without questioning their feasibility.
According to the cleric, politicians often create attractive campaign narratives. However, some abandon those promises after winning elections.
‘You Are Confusing Campaign With Governance’
Kukah illustrated his argument with the story of a politician who used impressive pictures during an election campaign.
The images showed tarred roads, bridges, beautiful houses and children wearing smart school uniforms.
The politician used those pictures to convince residents that he would transform their community.
He reportedly won the election. However, three years later, residents complained that none of the promised projects had materialised.
When they confronted him, he reportedly replied:
“You are confusing campaign with governance. What I did was purely a simple campaign. Governance is a difficult part.”
Kukah said the response reflected a recurring problem in Nigeria’s political system.
He explained that some elected leaders begin making excuses after assuming office.
“They start telling us all the things they want to do, and say, ‘We didn’t know that the treasury was so empty.’ Then, they start giving one excuse after the other,” he said.
Kukah Urges Nigerians to Question Politicians
The bishop urged Nigerians to become more critical of political promises.
He argued that voters must examine what politicians promise before deciding whether to support them.
“The point I am making is that it is the business of politicians to seduce, deceive or tell us things we can’t do just to win our votes,” Kukah said.
He added that citizens should use their knowledge and experience to assess political claims.
Kukah also urged Nigerians to look beyond ethnic, religious and social divisions when making political choices.
He said citizens must engage political leaders and demand explanations. They should not wait until politicians win elections before asking questions.
Jega Calls for Issue-Based Campaigns Ahead of 2027
Former Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega, also addressed the symposium.
He said responsibility for improving Nigeria’s electoral process should not rest on INEC alone.
Jega called on political parties and candidates to promote issue-based campaigns. He also urged them to adopt responsible political messaging.
He stressed the need for electoral institutions and government agencies to communicate transparently and promptly.
“Political parties and candidates must promote issue-based campaigns and responsible political messaging,” Jega said.
He also called on security agencies to provide credible information while maintaining professionalism.
With the 2027 general elections approaching, Jega urged stakeholders to learn from previous electoral experiences.
He said the country needed practical recommendations to improve political communication and strengthen election security.
Jega commended NILDS and The Kukah Centre for organising the symposium.
He expressed hope that the discussions would strengthen public confidence and encourage peaceful political competition.
