Prominent political leaders and scholars have raised fresh concerns over the health of Nigeria’s democracy, warning that poverty, cash politics, partisan manipulation of electoral laws and rising voter apathy can undermine the credibility of future elections if urgent corrective steps are not taken.
The warnings came on Sunday night during a high-level policy dialogue, Boiling Point Arena, where participants examined the implications of the recent amendments to Nigeria’s Electoral Law ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The panelists on the popular discourse transmitted via Zoom and broadcast live on seven radio stations were former Niger State Governor, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, a governorship hopeful in Ogun State, Otunba Segun Showunmi and a scholar at the University of Oxford, England, Prof Olugbenro Oyekan.
The once-in-a-month programme, now in its 41st edition was hosted by a veteran media professional and public relations strategist, Dr Ayo Arowojolu.
First to fire the salvo was Dr Babangida Aliyu who said worsening poverty across the country had become a powerful instrument for electoral manipulation, arguing that many politicians now exploit the frustration of citizens to influence voting outcomes.
According to him, growing public frustration with leadership has created an environment where voters are easily swayed by immediate survival needs.
“Nigerians are already frustrated about leadership in Nigeria. They can vote anything to scramble for what to eat,” Aliyu said, adding that politicians had increasingly capitalized on the situation to perfect vote-buying and other forms of electoral malpractice.
Also speaking, Ogun State governorship aspirant, Otunba Ṣẹgun Showunmi focused on the growing problem of voter apathy, which he described as one of the most serious threats to Nigeria’s democratic future.
Showunmi blamed the political elite for what he termed the “demarketing” of democracy through broken promises, manipulation of party primaries and widespread vote-buying.
“When people don’t vote, they have already voted with their silence,” he said.
He noted that declining participation in elections reflects the deepening loss of faith in the political system, pointing to the roughly 29 per cent voter turnout recorded in recent off-cycle elections as evidence of widespread public disengagement.
Showunmi also criticized lawmakers for what he described as self-serving legislative practices.
“Laws are now created in the legislature to suit the legislators themselves,” he said.
Despite the grim outlook, he urged young Nigerians to take greater responsibility for the country’s democratic future by participating actively in the electoral process.
“If this generation cannot perform civic duties, they lose the moral right to complain,” he argued.
Offering an international perspective, UK-based scholar, Prof. Olugbenro Oyekan maintained that periodic amendments to electoral laws were necessary for strengthening democratic processes, but warned that such reforms must not be driven by narrow political interests.
“Constant review does not mean people should not trust the process,” he said, noting that electoral systems must evolve to confront challenges such as money politics and emerging political manipulations.
However, Prof Oyekan cautioned that the credibility of reforms depends largely on the sincerity of political actors.
“Amendments must not be driven by partisan motives,” he warned, stressing that legal reforms alone cannot deliver credible elections without a broader reorientation of political values.
A well publicized discourse, Boiling Point Arena, will be broadcast live on WASH 94.9FM, Sweet 107.1FM, Roots 97.1FM, Erimbe 94.7FM, Women Radio 91.7FM and Kruzz 92.9FM, Asaba, and Opera Tune 106.3FM as well as a cable television, NSTV on GoTV channel 316.
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