Jega Raises Alarm Over Nigeria’s Fragile Democracy, Calls for Urgent Reforms

Former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega, has expressed deep concern over the state of Nigeria’s democracy, warning that despite nearly 30 years of uninterrupted civil rule, democratic governance in the country remains dangerously underdeveloped.

Speaking in Lagos at The Platform Nigeria: June 12 Edition, organised by The Covenant Nation Global, the political science professor from Bayero University, Kano, delivered a paper titled “Required Reforms for Stronger Democratic Institutions in Nigeria”. He criticized the superficial nature of Nigeria’s democratic process, stating that while the country has perfected “the rituals of democracy”—including elections, party campaigns, and political handovers—it has failed to build the foundational substance: strong institutions, accountable leadership, and a trusting citizenry.

“We are stuck in a vicious cycle where those elected to protect democracy become its greatest threat,” Jega lamented.

Call for Institutional Overhaul

Central to Jega’s argument was the need for sweeping institutional reforms. He singled out the immunity clause in Nigeria’s constitution as a major enabler of executive impunity.

“What was meant to shield presidents and governors from frivolous lawsuits has instead become a license for looting, abuse, and unaccountable power,” he said. “This is not democracy. It is elected autocracy. The immunity clause must go.”

He stressed that removing the clause was only a starting point and called for real-time accountability for all public officials, regardless of status.

Fixing a Compromised Judiciary

Jega also drew attention to what he described as a “broken judiciary,” compromised by political interference, underfunding, and opaque appointments. He noted that many judges are beholden to executive influence, resulting in delayed justice and tolerated impunity.

“A democracy without an independent judiciary is like a car without brakes—it’s only a matter of time before it crashes,” he warned.

He proposed urgent reforms to ensure judicial independence, including a merit-based appointment process, the elimination of contradictory court orders, and resolving all election petitions before winners are sworn into office.

Strengthening the Media and Civic Space

Highlighting the importance of press freedom, Jega decried the growing intimidation and co-optation of Nigerian journalists.

“If the press cannot freely investigate, question, and report without fear, democratic oversight collapses,” he said, urging full enforcement of the Freedom of Information Act and sanctions for non-compliant government agencies. He also called on media professionals to uphold ethics and actively counter disinformation and hate speech.

Reforming INEC and Safeguarding the Vote

Reflecting on his tenure at INEC, Jega acknowledged progress made in electoral technology but insisted that deeper reforms are necessary. He questioned the continued executive control over the appointment of INEC leadership, arguing that it compromises the commission’s independence.

“INEC is overburdened. It should not be responsible for prosecuting electoral offenders or regulating political parties. These functions must be assigned to autonomous bodies so that INEC can focus solely on managing elections,” he said.

He called for secure, standardized electronic voting systems, including biometric accreditation and real-time result transmission, to eliminate manipulation and restore voter confidence.

Executive Overreach and Budgetary Abuse

Professor Jega condemned what he described as the unchecked dominance of the executive arm at both federal and state levels, noting the excessive number of political appointees and lack of financial transparency—especially with security votes.

“Often, governors and the president operate as if they are above scrutiny,” he said. “Budgets are treated as suggestions, and public office is reduced to personal enterprise.”

He recommended drastically cutting political appointments, enforcing transparency in public spending, and holding officials to the highest ethical standards.

Reviving Citizen Engagement

Beyond institutions, Jega emphasized that the survival of democracy rests on the active engagement of Nigerian citizens.

“Too many Nigerians have lost faith in the system—and for good reason. But democracy cannot be outsourced. Citizens must reject vote-buying, ethnic politics, and the politics of handouts. Democracy belongs to the people—but only if the people claim it.”

He also called for inclusive reforms to increase political participation, including voting rights for the diaspora, early voting options for essential workers, and legislative quotas for women, youth, and persons with disabilities.

A Call for Democratic Reset

In his closing remarks, Jega urged Nigerians to abandon the illusion that civil rule equals democracy. He warned that the country risks democratic collapse if it continues down its current path of weak institutions, executive overreach, and citizen disillusionment.

“This is a generational task, but one that cannot wait,” he said. “We must remove executive immunity, strengthen the judiciary, empower the media, protect the vote, and curtail executive power. Nigeria is not doomed—but we are running out of time.”

“Let the reforms begin. Let the people rise. Let democracy, finally, be real.”