Iliyasu Abdullahi Bah
Nigeria’s democratic process continues to face significant challenges, with three major issues consistently undermining the credibility of its elections: the absence of quality leadership, the dominance of godfatherism, and the persistence of widespread electoral malpractices. Together, these problems have fueled a cycle of poor governance, voter apathy, and the steady erosion of democratic institutions.
One of the most pressing concerns is the lack of competent and visionary leaders emerging through the democratic process. Instead of merit and capacity guiding candidate selection, political parties frequently prioritize loyalty, financial influence, or ethnic affiliations.
Consequently, many elected officials lack the vision and competence required to deliver good governance, resulting in underdevelopment, systemic corruption, and a deepening loss of public trust. The exorbitant cost of election campaigns further deters qualified but less wealthy individuals from contesting, leaving the political space dominated by wealthy elites rather than the most capable leaders. This trend has entrenched a political culture where governance is more about personal enrichment than genuine public service.
Godfatherism has equally entrenched itself as a formidable obstacle to credible elections in Nigeria. Under this system, powerful political figures handpick and sponsor candidates, wielding undue influence over policies, appointments, and even budgetary allocations once their candidates assume office. In states such as Lagos, Rivers, and Kano, political godfathers have repeatedly manipulated party primaries to ensure only their preferred candidates emerge as flagbearers. This practice undermines internal party democracy, sidelines qualified aspirants, and subverts the will of the people. The consequences are grave—elected officials often prioritize the interests of their godfathers above those of the electorate, perpetuating poor governance and political stagnation.
Recent events illustrate the scale of the problem. In Kaduna State, security operatives arrested a suspected vote-buyer with over ₦25 million in cash allegedly meant to compromise the ongoing by-election. According to state police spokesman Mansir Hassan, the suspect, Patangi, confessed during interrogation that the recovered ₦25,963,000 was intended for voter bribery and pleaded for leniency. Meanwhile, in Kano State, the by-election was marred by allegations of manipulation by the ruling government to enforce one-party dominance, further discouraging voter participation and deepening Nigeria’s chronically low voter turnout.
Kano resident Maryam Abdullahi lamented what she described as a “forbidden electoral process,” where ruling parties impose preferred candidates due to vested interests overriding credibility. Similarly, Junaid Sadauki condemned the “unacceptable recycling of political power” among the same circles of governors, senators, and ministers since Nigeria’s return to democracy, questioning whether credible elections would ever materialize. Yusuf Musa, reflecting the frustrations of many citizens, expressed prayers for a better Nigeria where proper systems would ensure good leadership and genuine representation.
Scholarly perspectives highlight the entrenched nature of these challenges. Osogba (2017) argues that political godfatherism has been embedded in Nigeria’s democratic system since the First Republic, contributing to persistent issues such as political violence, vote buying, and disenfranchisement. Adetula (2015) emphasizes that despite Nigeria’s anti-corruption rhetoric, the financing of political parties and candidates remains problematic, with the regulation of electoral funding requiring not only institutional mechanisms but also significant political will. Similarly, Vende (2019), in a survey, observed that many voters admitted receiving incentives from politicians. While some claimed to vote according to conscience despite inducements, the prevalence of such practices underscores how material incentives distort the electoral process.
Despite efforts by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and civil society organizations, electoral fraud remains rampant, particularly in Northern Nigeria. Malpractices such as vote buying, ballot box snatching, violence, underage voting, and multiple voting continue to distort the will of the people, resulting in the imposition of leaders who lack genuine popular mandate.
These challenges—poor leadership recruitment, entrenched godfatherism, and systemic electoral fraud—remain central to Nigeria’s democratic crisis. Unless urgently addressed, they threaten to perpetuate weak governance, political instability, and the disillusionment of the electorate.