Key Points

• Dickson and Amaechi warn that election rigging threatens Nigeria’s democracy.
• Amaechi says political interests prevent meaningful electoral reform.
• Speakers call for independent election management and stronger civic engagement.

Former Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson and former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi have warned that electoral fraud poses the greatest danger to Nigeria’s democracy as the nation prepares for the 2027 general elections.

They spoke in Abuja during the fifth anniversary lecture of First Daily Newspaper, attended by political leaders, diplomats, and media executives.

The theme of the event was “2027: How Can We Make Our Votes Count?”

Rigging Undermines Sovereignty

Dickson, who chaired the event, described election rigging as a direct assault on the people’s will.

“Rigging of elections is the worst coup you can plan,” he said. “When politicians, governments, security agencies, and the electoral umpire collude to write results that don’t reflect the people’s choice, that’s a coup against democracy and the sovereignty of the people.”

He shared his experience as a former opposition governor, saying most politicians’ idea of election planning often involves acts that violate electoral integrity.

“What the average Nigerian politician calls election planning is a conspiracy to commit crimes,” he said.

Dickson urged the National Assembly to strengthen electoral laws to prevent result manipulation and protect voter confidence.

Amaechi: Reforms Fail Because of Political Interests

Amaechi, a former Minister of Transportation, echoed Dickson’s concerns. He argued that no incumbent administration has shown genuine commitment to reforming the electoral process.

“The problem with elections in Nigeria is that there’s no incumbent government that can carry out electoral reform. None. We’ve tried and failed,” he said.

Amaechi blamed entrenched political interests for blocking reforms and accused opposition parties of failing to provide credible alternatives to the ruling class.

He warned that voter apathy and public indifference were making it easier for manipulation to persist.

Call for Independent Election Management

In his keynote address, Dr. Sam Amadi, Director of the Abuja School of Social and Political Thought, said Nigeria’s democracy remains fragile because of political interference in election management.

“Everyone who manages elections is somehow connected to the president,” Amadi said.

“This lack of neutrality has turned elections into battles of power rather than expressions of the people’s will.”

He called for a system that separates electoral management from political influence to build public trust.

Media Urges Honest Leadership

Daniel Markson, publisher of First Daily, said Nigeria’s leadership crisis stems from flawed elections and governance failures.

“There’s a leadership issue in this country,” he said. “We must admit we’ve failed and start building a system that truly reflects the people’s voice.”

The event ended with a shared call for transparency, civic participation, and electoral reforms to safeguard Nigeria’s democracy as the 2027 elections draw near.