Nigeria’s governance crisis, occasioned by a deeply flawed electoral process, has continued to be a source of worry for most Nigerians. It is believed that when the will of the people is compromised as a result of flawed electoral processes, the foundation of governance is weakened, public trust erodes, and accountability becomes elusive.
This is largely what Nigerians have experienced since the return to civilian rule in 1999. In the last 27 years, the electoral space has degenerated so much that every election cycle has thrown the country and its people further into despair. The products of such elections, who feel no attachment whatsoever to the electorate, wilfully trample on the will of the people.
The lack of electoral integrity and absence of good governance in the country was the thrust of a discourse in Abeokuta, Ogun State, on Thursday. Concerned about the dangerous drift of the country, which has been bedevilled by economic mismanagement, growing poverty among the populace and insecurity, some eminent Nigerians from different fields of human endeavour came together, on the occasion of Penpushing Media’s eighth annual lecture, to provide solutions.
The theme of this year’s lecture, ‘Restoring Electoral Integrity: The Path to Good Governance and Public Accountability,’ provided the perfect platform for a robust conversation on the state of Nigeria’s democracy and the urgent need to rebuild public confidence in the electoral process.
The gathering, made up of critical stakeholders in the Nigerian project, included retired Justice of the Court of Appeal, Justice Oladeinde Shoremi, who was the Father of the Day; the Mother of the Day, Ambassador Olatokunbo Awolowo Dosumu, represented by Mr Sina Oladeinde, Editor, Sunday Tribune; the keynote speaker and legal icon, Mr Femi Falana, SAN; former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Dr Tunde Lemo, who chaired the event; Senator Iyabo Obasanjo; prominent media professionals; as well as prominent traditional rulers in Egbaland, Oba Professor Saka Matemilola, the Olowu of Owu, and the Osile of Oke Ona Egba, Oba Dr Adedapo Tejuoso, among others.
Before the keynote speaker, Mr Falana, SAN, delivered his treatise, speakers such as Dr Lemo, chairman of the event, who declared the programme open; retired Justice Shoremi; the Olowu of Owu; the Osile of Oke Ona Egba; Ambassador Awolowo Dosumu; and others agreed that electoral integrity is not merely a democratic ideal but the bedrock upon which accountable leadership and sustainable development are built.
Pastor Dr Lemo, in his opening remarks, decried the inglorious electoral culture the country’s political elite has foisted on the people and the havoc that questionable electoral processes have wreaked on the nation. He shared his personal experience as a participant in the last party primaries, recalling how the process was skewed to favour some entrenched interests. He submitted that a strong electoral culture rooted in integrity and accountability is necessary if the country desires to overcome its debilitating socio-economic challenges.
The Father of the Day, retired Justice Shoremi, in his message, reminisced about the golden age of the Western Region when Chief Obafemi Awolowo was the Premier. He compared the current leadership, which sees the country as its fiefdom, with the Awolowo era, when leaders truly saw themselves as servants of the people.
He recalled an encounter he had with the sage as a young student. He and his friend had gone to the Moor Plantation to pluck some fruits when it started raining. Drenched, they were worried about how they would get back to town when they saw a car approaching.
‘We knew immediately that the car was Chief Awolowo’s. We all knew the number plate by heart. When the car got to us, it stopped and the door opened. Chief Awolowo then beckoned to us to enter.
‘He didn’t mind the fact that we were drenched. He took us in his car to our homes. Before then, I had never met Chief Awolowo. But he saw us, little children on the road, and took us home. That was the Premier of the Western Region. Who among today’s leaders would do that? We would visit him in his house at Oke-Bola and ask him questions. Chief Awolowo would patiently answer us,’ Justice Shoremi recalled, maintaining that the Western Region earned recognition because its leaders placed public interest above personal gain and enjoyed the trust of the people they governed. He noted that visionary leadership, coupled with the creation of credible institutions, was the bulwark of the remarkable achievements recorded in education, healthcare, infrastructure and public service during that era.
He submitted that credible elections remain the cornerstone of every democratic society, admonishing the judiciary to preserve its independence and resist every form of political manipulation, especially in election-related matters. Judges, he maintained, must remain impartial, while politicians should desist from turning the judiciary into an instrument for perpetuating corruption and electoral injustice.
The message resonated with many participants who insisted that Nigeria’s democracy can regain credibility if political leaders embrace the discipline, transparency and accountability that defined governance in the Western Region under Awolowo.
Also speaking, former Nigerian Ambassador to the Netherlands and chairman of African Newspapers of Nigeria Plc, publishers of the Tribune titles, Dr Awolowo Dosumu, in her goodwill message to the organisers, emphasised that restoring electoral integrity is fundamental to achieving good governance, public accountability and sustaining democracy.
Dr Awolowo Dosumu described elections as the constitutional expression of the sovereignty of the people and noted that their integrity is essential to the legitimacy of governments and the stability of the nation. According to her, good governance and public accountability begin with credible elections whose outcomes inspire public confidence.
Mr Falana, SAN, in his keynote address, while concurring that the malfeasance in the electoral process has brought incalculable damage to the country, said no nation can attain meaningful development when elections fail to reflect the genuine choices of citizens. He pointed out that credible elections are indispensable to producing leaders who possess both the legitimacy and moral authority to govern effectively.
Falana identified irregularities in political party primaries, vote-buying, abuse of state resources, poverty and oppression as major factors undermining electoral integrity in Nigeria.
According to him, the country cannot achieve credible elections until political parties themselves become transparent and comply with electoral laws. He argued that electoral integrity begins with internal democracy, lamenting that many parties impose candidates despite collecting huge nomination fees from aspirants.
‘You cannot talk about electoral integrity when aspirants are prevented from participating in primaries and candidates are imposed,’ he said, warning that the absence of transparent primaries ultimately weakens democracy.
Falana further described the current political order as drifting towards plutocracy, where wealth increasingly determines political participation and outcomes.
Citing disclosures by the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Olanipekun Olukoyede, he noted allegations that some governorship aspirants spent between N20 billion and N30 billion to secure party tickets.
For the human rights lawyer, such enormous spending raises serious concerns about the integrity of the political process and the source of campaign funds. He also condemned the growing culture of vote-buying, describing it as a criminal offence that has gradually become normalised in the country.
Beyond the legal implications, Falana linked vote-buying to the worsening economic conditions confronting millions of Nigerians. Quoting figures from the National Bureau of Statistics indicating that over 133 million Nigerians are multidimensionally poor, he argued that poverty has made many citizens vulnerable to inducement during elections.
According to him, electoral integrity means little to citizens struggling to meet their basic needs, as hunger often compels voters to accept financial inducements from politicians.
His remarks underscored the broader reality that democratic consolidation cannot be divorced from economic justice and social welfare.
Traditional rulers at the event also lent their voices to the conversation on electoral reforms and public accountability.
The Olowu of Owu, Oba Professor Matemilola, called on all stakeholders, including the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), political actors, security agencies, civil society organisations and the media, to work collectively towards restoring public confidence in the nation’s electoral process. The Oba submitted that democracy thrives only when citizens trust the system and believe that their votes truly count.
Similarly, the Osile of Oke-OnaEgba, Oba Tejuoso, urged political leaders to respect the rule of law and avoid actions capable of undermining electoral credibility. He highlighted the critical role of the media in promoting accountability, combating misinformation and educating citizens before, during and after elections.
The founder of Penpushing Media, Mr Dimeji Kayode-Adedeji, said the organisation has remained committed to promoting journalism and stimulating national conversations on issues of public importance. The annual lecture series, according to him, reflects the media platform’s dedication to nation-building and responsible journalism.
The chairperson of the anniversary planning committee, Dr Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, explained that the theme was deliberately chosen because of its relevance as the country gradually moves towards another election cycle. She reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to authentic journalism and constructive engagement on national issues.
As Nigeria continues its democratic journey, the message from Abeokuta was clear. One, the quality of governance is directly linked to the credibility of elections, and without integrity in the electoral process, accountability becomes difficult, public trust diminishes, and democracy itself is endangered.
Two, the nation stands a good chance of producing leaders who are accountable to the people and committed to national development when elections are transparent, supported by strong institutions, and citizens participate actively.