By NaijaNews
Former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, has taken a swipe at Nigerian politicians, accusing them of turning elections into a life-or-death contest, rather than a democratic process.
Speaking in Abuja at the joint graduation ceremony of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) and the University of Benin, Jega warned that the growing desperation among politicians to win elections “by all means necessary” poses a grave danger to Nigeria’s democracy.
> “When we see the desperation of these politicians, it is very clear — as former President Obasanjo once said — that they approach elections with a ‘do-or-die’ mentality. We must win by whatever means necessary,” Jega declared to a stunned audience.
The former INEC boss said that despite 25 years of uninterrupted democracy, Nigeria still battles rigging, vote-buying, violence, and manipulation of results, which have eroded public trust in the electoral process.
Jega lamented that politicians have turned the ballot into a battlefield, warning that their dangerous obsession with power could destroy the very foundation of democracy.
> “No elections are perfect and none are likely to ever be,” he noted. “But the integrity of elections is not static — it improves only when all stakeholders are genuinely committed to fairness.”
He stressed that electoral integrity and governance quality go hand-in-hand, insisting that credible polls remain the bedrock of good leadership.
> “The credibility of elections has a direct correlation with the quality of representation and governance,” Jega stated.
Calls for Urgent Reform
Jega urged political leaders, electoral bodies, and citizens to work together to strengthen Nigeria’s democratic institutions, warning that without reform and civic education, the nation risks sliding into a democracy “in name only.”
> “Our political landscape has been polluted by decades of reckless ambition. Fixing it will require continuous, concerted efforts,” he said.
His comments come as preparations intensify ahead of the next general election, amid mounting public frustration over political corruption, economic hardship, and loss of confidence in government institutions.
Observers say Jega’s warning reflects growing fears that unless Nigeria’s politicians change course, democracy could lose its meaning — and the ballot could become just another weapon in their power struggle.
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