Former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, has expressed concern that the desperation of Nigerian politicians continues to erode the credibility of elections and threaten the country’s democratic stability.
Speaking on Monday at the joint graduation ceremony of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) and the University of Benin in Abuja, Jega said the “do-or-die” attitude among political actors remains a major obstacle to credible polls in Nigeria.
The former INEC boss, who is also a Professor of Political Science at Bayero University, Kano, lamented that 25 years after Nigeria’s return to civil rule, the nation still struggles with electoral malpractice, violence, and public distrust in the political process.
“When we see the desperation of these politicians, it is very clear—as former President Obasanjo once said—that they engage in elections with a ‘do-or-die’ mentality. ‘We must win by whatever means are necessary,’” Jega said.
According to him, such conduct has weakened public confidence in democracy and left the country “muddling through democratic development” since 1999.
He recalled that the dangerous trend of desperation in Nigerian politics became more pronounced in 2007 when former President Olusegun Obasanjo publicly described elections as a “do-or-die affair.”
“That declaration,” Jega noted, “captured the zero-sum mindset of many politicians who see elections as a battle to be won at all costs, often leading to violence, vote-buying, ballot snatching, and prolonged court disputes.”
While admitting that no election is perfect, Jega stressed the need to continually strengthen the integrity of the process through institutional reforms, capacity building, and ethical political conduct.
“No elections are perfect and none are likely to ever be. Electoral integrity is relative and measured as a continuum—from the extreme worst-case scenario to the ideal best-case scenario,” he explained.
He emphasized that credible elections are the foundation of good governance and urged political actors to prioritize integrity, strengthen institutions, and promote democracy that truly reflects the people’s will.
“The credibility of elections has a direct correlation with the quality of representation and governance,” Jega concluded.
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