Former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Muhammadu Jega, has issued a stark warning that Nigeria's democracy is being replaced by "elected autocracy" despite nearly three decades of uninterrupted civil rule.
Speaking at The Platform Nigeria: June 12, 2025 edition, organized by The Covenant Nation Global in Lagos, Jega presented a paper titled "Required Reforms for Stronger Democratic Institutions in Nigeria" where he highlighted the dangerous underdevelopment of Nigeria's democratic system.
"We have perfected the rituals of democracy, elections, party campaigns, political handovers, but have failed to build the substance: institutions that work, leaders who serve, and a citizenry that trusts. We are stuck in a vicious cycle where those elected to protect democracy become its greatest threat," Jega stated.
Constitutional Immunity: A Shield for Corruption
The Political Science Professor from Bayero University, Kano, identified the immunity clause in Nigeria's Constitution as a central problem in the country's governance crisis. According to him, this provision has transformed from a protection against frivolous litigation into "a protective shield for corruption and abuse."
"Under this provision, executives have looted public funds, manipulated institutions, and trampled on rights without consequence. They know that for four or eight years, they are above the law. This is not democracy, it is elected autocracy. The immunity clause must go," he emphasized.
Judicial Reform: Urgent and Necessary
Jega also highlighted the compromised state of Nigeria's judiciary, describing it as "broken" due to political interference, underfunding, and opaque appointments. He warned that "a democracy without an independent judiciary is like a car without brakes, it's only a matter of time before it crashes."
Among his recommendations for judicial reform, Jega called for all election petitions to be resolved before winners are sworn in, merit-based appointment processes for judges, and an end to contradictory court orders on the same issues from different courts.
Media Freedom and Electoral Integrity
The former INEC chairman expressed concern about the state of media freedom in Nigeria, noting that journalists are "routinely harassed, denied access to public information, or co-opted by political actors." He called for full enforcement of the Freedom of Information Act and meaningful sanctions for government agencies that violate it.
On electoral reforms, Jega advocated for unbundling INEC to allow it to focus solely on election management, while creating specialized autonomous institutions to handle other responsibilities like prosecuting electoral offenders and regulating political parties.
"Technology is crucial to electoral integrity, but only if it is used transparently," he said, calling for standardized and secure electronic transmission of results, biometric accreditation, and digital tracking to eliminate human manipulation and back-end rigging.
Executive Overreach and Citizen Engagement
Jega criticized the unchecked dominance of the executive arm at both state and federal levels, describing how governors and the president often operate "as if they are above scrutiny" by allocating security votes without transparency, ignoring legislative oversight, and appointing cronies without merit.
To address this imbalance, he suggested drastically cutting the number of political appointments, enforcing strict transparency in public spending, and demanding higher ethical standards from elected officials.
The professor emphasized that the long-term solution to democracy's survival depends on citizen engagement. "Too many Nigerians have lost faith in the system and for good reason. Corruption, impunity, and exclusion have driven apathy. But democracy cannot be outsourced. Citizens must demand accountability, participate actively, and reject vote-buying, ethnic politics, and the politics of handouts," he stated.
Call for Democratic Reset
Jega concluded by calling for a "full democratic reset" in Nigeria, warning that the country risks not just democratic stagnation but collapse if it continues with weak institutions, unaccountable power, and silenced dissent.
"Nigeria is not doomed. But we are running out of time. This republic can still be saved, if we act with urgency, clarity, and courage. Let the reforms begin. Let the people rise. Let democracy, finally, be real," he concluded.
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