Former Governors of Bayelsa and Rivers States, Senators Seriake Dickson and Rotimi Amaechi, have warned that Nigeria’s democracy faces a grave threat from persistent electoral fraud, voter apathy, and political manipulation as the 2027 general elections draw near.
The duo spoke at the fifth anniversary lecture of First Daily Newspaper in Abuja yesterday, where political leaders, diplomats, and media executives gathered to deliberate on the future of Nigeria’s electoral system. The event’s theme was “2027: How Can We Make Our Votes Count?”
Dickson, who chaired the event, described election rigging as “the worst coup against democracy,” accusing some politicians, security agencies, and electoral officials of colluding to subvert the will of the people.
“Rigging of elections is the worst coup you can plan. When politicians, governments, security agencies, and the electoral umpire collude to fabricate results that do not reflect the people’s votes, that is a coup against democracy and the sovereignty of the people,” he said.
Recalling his time as an opposition governor, Dickson noted that what many politicians call “election planning” is often a “conspiracy to commit crimes.” He urged the National Assembly to strengthen electoral laws to safeguard the integrity of results and protect citizens’ mandates.
Similarly, Amaechi, former Rivers State governor and ex-Minister of Transportation, decried the absence of meaningful electoral reform, arguing that no incumbent government has ever successfully implemented one.
“The problem with elections in Nigeria is that there is no incumbent government that can achieve electoral reform. None. We already tried it and failed,” Amaechi declared.
He warned that voter apathy and public indifference were emboldening electoral malpractice, while opposition parties have failed to provide a credible alternative to the ruling class.
Delivering the keynote address, Dr Sam Amadi, Director of the Abuja School of Social and Political Thought, said Nigeria’s democracy remains fragile because election management is deeply tied to political power.
“Everyone involved in managing elections is connected to the president,” Amadi said, lamenting that the lack of independent oversight had turned elections into contests of influence rather than expressions of the people’s will.
Earlier, the publisher of First Daily, Daniel Markson, in his welcome address, attributed Nigeria’s leadership crisis to flawed elections and weak governance.
“There is a leadership issue in this country,” he said. “I’m not pointing fingers, but let’s tell ourselves the truth: we have failed.”
