Elections in Nigeria are now routine events to favour the incumbents

 

"Critics will always talk and give you names. When they accused me of killing the opposition, I didn't have a gun. I could have even issued myself a licence, since I have the authority"-President Bola Tinubu, reacting to allegations that his administration is weakening opposition parties or plotting to impose a one-party system in Nigeria. Photo: Google. 

The quality of an election often depends on the political will of the authorities. 'If the incentive to retain power outweighs the commitment to the process, the quality of the election will inevitably suffer'. There is growing distrust towards the electoral conduct in Nigeria. Citizens, opposition political parties and candidates are becoming less trusting of elections in Nigeria. According to Businessday Nigeria newspaper, "Nigeria's democracy is approaching a defining test, not of electoral participation but of electoral credibility. The question confronting the country ahead of the 2027 general elections is no longer whether Nigerians will vote but whether citizens will continue to believe that voting meaningfully determines political power. At stake is not simply the outcome of future elections but the endurance of public trust in democratic institutions themselves". Elections must be free from manipulations to truly represent public will. "While elections are vital, their effectiveness depends on addressing inherent flaws to truly reflect societal will". If rich people buy elections or elections are manipulated to favour the incumbent using state resources, citizens will struggle to accept the results as legitimate. Elections are fundamental to a healthy democracy and must not been seen as routine events or mere formality for incumbents. Uche Okeke. My View.