KEY POINTS

• Political scandals have repeatedly shaken Nigeria’s governance and democracy.
• Corruption, rigged elections, and power struggles define these controversies.
• Citizens demand accountability, but history often repeats itself.

Nigeria stands as the largest African nation where many political scandals have occurred. Political scandals tend to involve leading politicians together with corrupt practices and corrupted elections and improper exploitation of power. Various problems have threatened Nigeria’s stability as well as generated long-lasting impacts for governance, governmental trust and Nigeria’s position internationally.

A comprehensive research into seven political scandals in Nigeria which profoundly affected the country.

1. The 1975 coup and the corruption accusations against Yakubu Gowon

In July 1975 General Yakubu Gowon who ruled Nigeria through military power from 1966 to 1975 fell from power without violence at the hands of General Murtala Mohammed. The Gowon administration maintained national unity during the Civil War yet served under accusations of corruption as well as incompetence and economic development problems.

The biggest criticism toward Gowon’s government was how the oil revenue was used fraudulently. Billion-dollar cash flow came to Nigeria as the country experienced its oil boom in the early 1970s yet several reported billions did not support public projects. The public showed their disappointment through anger directed at government officials who enjoyed luxury life and acquired expensive foreign residences while reportedly stealing funds from the public treasury.

Gowon claimed there was no wrongdoings while his government failed to curb corruption which led to a loss of public trust that ultimately ended his presidency.

2. The 1983 election and the ouster of Shehu Shagari

Nigeria’s history marks the 1983 general election as a highly controversial political event. President Shehu Shagari overcame his second term challenge by staying in office since 1979 as National Party of Nigeria leader through election rigging activities.

During the 1983 general election the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) and Nigeria People’s Party (NPP) declared that the NPN government had engaged in widespread electoral fraud together with voter intimidation and forced manipulation of electoral results. Massive criticism of the 1983 election revealed its flaw to numerous Nigerians who thought democracy had been compromised.

Right after the highly contested electoral process in December 1983 Major General Muhammadu Buhari executed a military coup that forced Shagari to step down from power. Buhari justified the military operation by highlighting institutional corruption and voting manipulation yet his government would later face many controversies.

3. The IBB and Dele Giwa assassination controversy (1986)

The assassination of Dele Giwa, the founder and editor of Newswatch magazine, stands as one of the most egregious political scandals in Nigeria’s history. The courageous journalist Giwa dedicated his career to exposing government corruption together with military wrongdoings and excessive practices.

The execution of Giwa took place on October 19, 1986 when assassins sent him a fatal parcel bomb to his Lagos home. Many Nigerians suspected General Ibrahim Babangida’s regime committed the crime since Giwa had been investigating corruption cases among Babangida’s rule.

The event served to be a turning point for journalistic freedom in Nigeria regardless of the government refusing responsibility. The threat directed toward journalists warned them against exposing state classified information. The murder case persists unsolved without resolution which ranks among the most notorious assassination cases in Nigerian history.

4. The Abacha embezzlement (1993–1998)

General Sani Abacha ruled Nigeria as its leader from 1993 to 1998 while simultaneously demonstrating extreme corruption and human rights abuses. His government period consisted of silencing opponents through violence combined with the misuse of state funds.

Evidence after his death in 1998 revealed Abacha stole $5 billion from the Nigerian treasury which he hid using offshore accounts throughout Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States. Throughout successive years various attempts have returned hundreds of millions of dollars back to Nigeria from assets stolen by corrupt officials.

North African countries demonstrate profound public corruption through the Abacha Loot Affair. The financial system of Nigeria became exposed by this scandal leading to public demands for stronger anti-corruption policies.

5. The 1999 senate leadership corruption scandal

Shortly after Nigeria restored democracy in 1999 Evan Enwerem lost his position as Senate President of the Fourth Republic due to charges of corrupt practices and financial misadministration.

Enwerem used multiple fraudulent financial activities while reportedly changing his name to hide particular business operations. The scandal of his ouster established itself as one of the first major corruption cases during the beginning years of Democratic Nigeria.

Chuba Okadigbo took office after Enwerem but faced corruption accusations which triggered his impeachment during 2000. The beginning era of civilian government revealed that systemic corruption persisted deeply within the political structure of Nigeria.

6. The third term agenda controversy (2006)

A constitutional amendment attempt to enable President Olusegun Obasanjo running for a third term surfaced in Nigeria during 2006.

Through the Nigerian Constitution presidents are limited to two terms but evidence emerged that senators and lawmakers received payments to approve modifications that would allow Obasanjo to run for another term. Members of the Nigerian legislature admitted to taking propositioned bribes valued at ₦50 million ($350,000) to back the proposed amendment.

Although attempts were made these efforts failed because the general public strongly rejected the initiative combined with non-support from the National Assembly to prevent another presidential term. Democratic institutions of Nigeria proved their strength while the power-grabbing attempts exposed the risks of exercising unlawful control over governance.

7. Allegations of electoral fraud and voter suppression in 2019

The 2019 presidential election produced Muhammadu Buhari administration win although it was characterized by widespread accusations of voting irregularities and electoral intimidation and violent incidents. Atiku Abubakar together with his backing force disputed fraudulent elements behind the election because of doctored returns in addition to the presence of military personnel and payment of bribes to voters.

Reports showed evidence of ballot box stealing together with suppression of voters by security forces within opposition-controlled areas and the detention of political rivals. Following the vote count the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Muhammadu Buhari their winner but opposition challenges to the vote results were finally sustained.

The electoral crisis caused profound popular disillusionment towards Nigeria’s democratic mechanisms because it led numerous citizens to demand substantial electoral reforms as protection against future electoral manipulation.

Conclusion

Nigeria faces substantial governance problems which resulted from the seven major political scandals that developed between 1966 and 2012. Several military uprisings in combination with financial scandals and electoral irregularities have produced substantial effects on Nigeria’s political development while damaging the way citizens perceive their leadership.

The country continues its effort to enhance openness as well as accountability and democratic integrity despite substantial challenges. Accountability of leaders depends on active citizens, civic society and investigative media despite Nigeria’s continuing political and corruption problems.