This week offered a troubling portrait of Nigeria’s political landscape, as power plays and electoral betrayals combined to cast shadows over the nation’s democratic future.
SERAP accused President Tinubu of appointing APC loyalists into INEC, warning of a rigged 2027 election. Tinubu, undeterred, praised Nyesom Wike’s loyalty, hinting at his possible defection to the APC. In Rivers, the APC issued veiled impeachment threats to Governor Fubara.
The Senate defended its rubber-stamp image, while Tinubu mocked the disorganised opposition. Most alarming, former INEC chair Attahiru Jega disclosed that professors were bribed to manipulate election results. Nigeria’s democracy is now dangerously adrift.
1. SERAP Urges Tinubu to Replace Alleged APC Loyalists in INEC
In a strongly worded letter dated 7 June, SERAP asked President Tinubu to reverse the appointments of at least three Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) allegedly affiliated with the APC. The rights group insists that politically affiliated officials at INEC undermine its independence, violate constitutional provisions, and jeopardise the credibility of the 2027 general elections.
Why it Matters:
This is a direct challenge to the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral framework. If partisan actors remain within INEC, public trust may further erode, deepening voter apathy. SERAP’s letter is also a subtle indictment of Tinubu’s democratic credentials, pressuring him to prove that he values institutional neutrality over political loyalty.
2. Tinubu Courts Wike, Hints at APC Membership
President Tinubu publicly joked about welcoming FCT Minister Nyesom Wike to the APC during a road commissioning event. Wike, though officially a PDP member, has consistently aligned with the president since the 2023 elections. His latest declaration, that he will lead Tinubu’s re-election campaign in Rivers, confirms his political loyalty to the ruling party.
Why it Matters:
Wike’s ambiguous political status distorts party politics, normalises cross-party alliances based on personal interest, and further weakens the opposition. Tinubu’s open arms reinforce fears of one-party dominance while showcasing his political pragmatism, and perhaps, cynicism, toward party ideology.
3. APC Warns Fubara: Reconcile or Be Impeached
The Rivers APC issued a stern warning to suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara: make peace with the State Assembly or face impeachment. The state has been under federal control since March, when Tinubu imposed a controversial emergency rule amid internal strife. Though meetings suggest possible reconciliation, tensions remain high.
Why it Matters:
This raises constitutional alarms. The threat of impeachment under the shadow of federal intervention paints a grim picture of federal overreach and state autonomy erosion. It also highlights how political conflict is being resolved not through democratic dialogue, but threats and emergency decrees.
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4. Senate Says Rubber-Stamping is in National Interest
In response to critics, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, speaking for the Senate, defended the legislature’s alignment with the executive, equating their endorsement of policies to an official “rubber stamp” of legitimacy. He cited the Student Loan Bill as an example of such beneficial legislation.
Why it Matters:
This statement reflects a disturbing redefinition of legislative independence. The metaphor of a ‘rubber stamp’ as something positive ignores the core democratic principle of checks and balances. It signals a legislature more concerned with public perception management than robust oversight.
5. Tinubu Mocks Opposition, Dismisses Unity Concerns
In a bold Democracy Day address, Tinubu openly mocked opposition parties, stating he would not advise or help them become organised. While he dismissed fears of a one-party state, his comments coincided with the continued defection of opposition figures to the APC.
Why it Matters:
Tinubu’s statement betrays a troubling disdain for political pluralism. A healthy democracy thrives on viable opposition. By enjoying their disarray, the president inadvertently reveals an appetite for dominance rather than democratic contestation.
6. Jega Reveals Professors Were Bribed to Rig Elections
Former INEC Chair Attahiru Jega revealed that politicians regularly attempted to bribe academics serving as returning officers. Though he insisted most resisted such offers, recent convictions of professors suggest the rot may be deeper than acknowledged.
Why it Matters:
This undermines the credibility of even the last bastions of perceived integrity, Nigeria’s academic elite. If elections can be rigged through the complicity of professors, then electoral corruption is systemic, not incidental. It casts a long shadow over past results and future prospects.
Conclusion: The Illusion of Democracy
This week’s events expose a jarring truth: Nigeria’s democracy is increasingly performative. From partisan electoral officials and a rubber-stamp legislature to opposition co-optation and federal strong-arming of states, the institutions meant to protect democracy are now instruments of political consolidation.
Tinubu’s open laughter at a fractured opposition, Wike’s fluid political identity, and Jega’s revelations all hint at a country losing its democratic soul, not suddenly, but deliberately. The question remains: are Nigerians still participants in democracy or just spectators of its unravelling?