Former Governors of Bayelsa and Rivers States, Senator Seriake Dickson and Rotimi Amaechi, have raised alarm over what they described as growing threats to Nigeria’s democracy ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking at the fifth anniversary lecture of First Daily Newspaper held in Abuja on Tuesday, the two leaders warned that persistent electoral fraud, voter apathy, and political manipulation were eroding public trust and endangering the nation’s democratic foundations.
The event, which drew political figures, diplomats, and media executives, had the theme: “2027: How Can We Make Our Votes Count?”
Dickson, who chaired the lecture, condemned election rigging as “the worst form of coup” against the people.
“Rigging of elections is the worst coup you can plan. When politicians, governments, security agencies, and even the electoral umpire collude to fabricate results, they violate the sovereignty of the people,” he said.
“In many cases, the people don’t even vote votes are written and assigned to them, and then they are told to ‘go to court.’ Anyone who does that has committed a coup against democracy.”
Drawing from his experience as a former opposition governor, Dickson described much of Nigeria’s election planning as “a conspiracy to commit crimes,” and urged the National Assembly to strengthen electoral laws to safeguard the people’s mandate.
In his goodwill message, Amaechi echoed similar concerns, lamenting that entrenched political interests had frustrated every attempt at genuine electoral reform.
“The problem with elections in Nigeria is that no incumbent government can deliver credible reforms. We’ve tried it and failed,” he said.
He faulted both ruling and opposition parties for perpetuating the status quo, warning that voter apathy and public indifference continued to enable electoral malpractice.
Delivering the keynote address, Dr. Sam Amadi, Director of the Abuja School of Social and Political Thought, criticised what he called the unhealthy fusion between political power and election management.
“Everyone involved in managing elections is somehow connected to the president,” Amadi said, adding that the lack of independence in key appointments had turned elections into “battles of influence rather than expressions of the people’s will.”
Earlier, the publisher of First Daily, Daniel Markson, in his welcome remarks, decried Nigeria’s leadership crisis, blaming it on flawed elections and weak governance.
“There is a leadership issue in this country,” he said. “I’m not pointing fingers at anyone here, but let’s tell ourselves the truth we have failed.”
