Yesterday, I watched an interview with a former INEC commissioner Mike Igini, where he voiced a very serious reservations about our system and other serious concerns. The man was almost in tears.
Igini eloquently posited: “Tinubu isn’t just planning to rig the 2027 elections, the APC has also inserted into the Electoral Act what would make any case against it invalid and make the judiciary authentic the coronation.”
“We are in for a long ride.”
“Sections 63, 138 of Electoral Act Dangerous Will Sabotage Voting at Polling Level”
“Section 63 of the 2026 Electoral Act has reintroduced something very dangerous: a ballot paper used for the 2027 election that does not bear INEC’s official manufacturer and security features may be accepted by the presiding officer. By implication, the presiding officer has been given the discretion to accept ballot papers notwithstanding the absence of the official mark, and to count such ballot papers. What that means is that politicians who have access to INEC’s serial and security features could produce their own ballot papers.”
For me, I woke up this morning sleep-deprived and miserable as I reflect on the unpleasant situations in our beloved country Nigeria. As a profoundly concerned citizen, a patriot — a son of Nigeria — who has arrived at a clear and final conclusion:
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After watching the live interview, i remember with nostalgia Onyeka Onwenu, affectionately known as the “Elegant Stallion,” a towering figure in Nigerian entertainment, journalism, and activism whose legacy continues to resonate after her passing on July 30, 2024, at the age of 72.
Corruption in Nigeria is described as deeply entrenched across public administration, politics, and the judiciary, often described as “elite greed” or a predatory ruling class that prioritizes personal enrichment over national development.
Sadly, including Transparency International’s 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), Nigeria is frequently characterized by systemic corruption and mismanagement of national resources by its ruling class. The 2025 report ranked Nigeria 142nd out of 182 countries, making it the 36th most corrupt nation globally, with a score of 26 out of 100, which is far below the global average.
Nigeria since the 1960s has had the misfortune of leaders noted for misrule, mis-leadership, corruption, abandonment of projects and high level criminally minded public office holders. Perhaps this was the reason for the 1984 documentary on Nigeria by Onyeka Onwenu. Unfortunately, things are going from bad to worst.
The wind is blowing back and forth –the tragedy of misrule and bad governance, particularly in contexts like Nigeria, is characterized by a systemic failure of leadership that prioritizes personal enrichment over the welfare of the citizenry, resulting in widespread poverty, insecurity, and institutional decay. I rest my case.
In conclusion, I’d like to add my voice to the question agitating the minds of many of our compatriots: is Nigeria a nation of criminal elites in profligacy and squandering of riches?
@richardODUSANYA
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