A former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega, expressed his concerns on Monday regarding the alarming desperation exhibited by Nigerian politicians. He cautioned that their “do-or-die” mentality is persistently undermining the integrity of elections and jeopardizing democratic progress.
He articulated these concerns during his keynote address at the joint graduation ceremony of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies and the University of Benin in Abuja.
Jega, who is a Professor of Political Science at Bayero University in Kano, lamented that despite 25 years of continuous democracy since 1999, Nigeria continues to grapple with electoral malpractice, violence, and a pervasive lack of trust in the electoral system.
“The desperation displayed by these politicians is evident, as former President Obasanjo remarked, that they approach elections with a ‘do-or-die’ mindset. We must win by any means necessary,” he stated.
The former INEC chairman noted that such attitudes have significantly diminished public trust in the democratic process, resulting in the country “literally muddling through democratic development” since the transition to civilian governance.
“No elections are flawless, and none are likely to be perfect in the future,” he acknowledged, emphasizing that electoral integrity “is relative and assessed on a continuum from the extreme worst-case scenario to the ideal best-case scenario.”
Jega pointed out that Nigeria’s political environment has been marred for decades by the relentless pursuit of power at any cost—a trend that gained public recognition in 2007 when then-President Olusegun Obasanjo notoriously labeled the general elections as a “do-or-die affair.”
Critics argue that this declaration encapsulated the desperation and zero-sum nature of Nigerian politics, where electoral competitions frequently devolve into violence, ballot snatching, vote-buying, and legal disputes.
However, Jega stressed that improving Nigeria’s electoral process necessitates “continuous concerted efforts” to reform the system, fortify institutions, and promote democratic values.
“The integrity of elections is directly linked to the effectiveness of representation and governance,” he remarked.
Additionally, during the event, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Benin, Prof. Edoba Omoregie, praised President Bola Tinubu for implementing the student loan initiative.
Omoregie characterized it as a measure that has “reduced educational obstacles” and offered assistance to students facing financial difficulties.
“The introduction of student loans has, therefore, reduced educational obstacles. This initiative enables Nigerian students, regardless of their financial situation or that of their parents and guardians, to easily obtain funding for their higher education in public universities,” Omoregie stated.
