Constitutional lawyer and public affairs analyst Fred Nzeako has warned that Nigeria’s democracy is being undermined by electoral fraud, constitutional breaches, and the erosion of voter confidence.
Speaking on ARISE News on Sunday, Nzeako said restoring integrity to the electoral process is more critical than political defections or party realignments.
“What is primary and uppermost in anything that has to do with elections is integrity — integrity and only integrity,” Nzeako said.
“Nigerians are terribly disenchanted with INEC after the 2023 elections. People say ‘once bitten, twice shy’ because INEC overpromised and underdelivered, especially regarding the result viewing portal.”
He noted that while the appointment of Professor Joachim Amupitan as INEC Chairman is constitutionally valid, Nigerians must judge him by his performance in the forthcoming off-cycle elections, especially the Anambra governorship election on November 8.
“Professor Amupitan comes with a track record of achievements, but not in election management,” he said. “His performance in Anambra and other elections before 2027 will determine the level of public confidence that can be rebuilt.”
Nzeako emphasised that voter apathy remains one of the country’s greatest democratic threats, noting that only 27% of registered voters participated in the last election.
“If 90 million people register to vote and only 20 million show up, the majority of Nigerians are not choosing their leaders. Whoever sits in office then represents the mandate of the minority, which is an anathema to democracy,” he said.
“People must understand that the thumb of the electorate is stronger than the barrel of any gun. Electoral fraud is the biggest crime anyone can commit because it robs the people of their mandate.”
On Nigeria’s recurring defection wave, Nzeako condemned politicians who cross party lines for personal gain, describing it as both “morally and constitutionally wrong.”
“Section 68 of the 1999 Constitution is very clear. Once you leave the party through which you were elected, your seat should be declared vacant,” he explained. “But Speakers and Senate Presidents ignore this rule when the defection benefits their party. That’s a terrible breach of the Constitution.”
He argued that while freedom of association allows politicians to join any party of their choice, they must not abuse that right at the expense of the voters who elected them.
“You cannot dump the mandate given to you under one party and jump to another party the people rejected at the polls. That’s a betrayal of trust,” he said. “If they claim to be connecting with the centre, then their conscience should trouble them.”
However, Nzeako said that if the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) uses its majority to strengthen governance and pass constitutional reforms, the current wave of defections could still produce positive results.
“Now that APC controls most states and the National Assembly, can they use this majority to deliver real benefits to Nigerians?” he asked. “For instance, can they ensure local government autonomy, which governors have resisted for years? If they use this majority for reform, it would be a positive fallout from all this movement.”
He lamented that Nigeria’s vast resources have not translated into meaningful development, blaming leadership failures and a lack of accountability.
“Nigeria is disappointing the rest of the world,” he said. “With our human and natural resources, the output from our leaders is nowhere near what nature has given us. If Nigeria rises, Africa will rise. But if Nigeria continues to totter, Africa will continue to stumble.”
Nzeako also supported former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s call for more youth participation in governance, saying Nigeria must be intentional about developing young and female leaders.
“We need to nurture our youth to take responsibility. You don’t gain leadership experience by sitting idle. Out of 100 young people, at least 20% will be exceptional if given a chance,” he said. “The same applies to women — they’ve consistently performed well wherever they’ve had the opportunity to serve.”
On the controversial directive by Edo State Governor Mandu Okpebhalo ordering his commissioners to wear caps with President Tinubu’s insignia, Nzeako described the move as “inverse patriotism.”
“That pronouncement was very embarrassing,” he said. “If he made it as an executive order, it’s completely wrong. Edo people are even begging him to stop embarrassing them. Patriotism should not be reduced to wearing a cap.”
Nzeako concluded by urging Nigerians to look beyond political symbols and party loyalty, saying the real test of democracy is credibility, conscience, and commitment to the people’s will.
“The past is gone,” he said. “Let’s make good use of today and tomorrow, because we can never recover the past. 2027 is ours to shape.”
Boluwatife Enome
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