Bugaje: Democracy at Risk if President Appoints INEC Chairman

Civil rights activist and former lawmaker, Dr Usman Bugaje, has warned that Nigeria’s democracy is heading for collapse unless urgent reforms are carried out to guarantee the independence of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Speaking on ARISE Television, Bugaje described as “a sham” any election in which the sitting president retains the power to appoint the INEC chairman.

According to him, allowing a contestant in an election to also determine the referee compromises the entire process.

“I don’t think the president – and I don’t mean this president, I mean any president – should have a hand in selecting the INEC chairman.

Any election where the president is a participant and also the appointing authority of the umpire is nothing but a sham. It is like Chelsea Football Club choosing the referee for a match against Manchester United,” he said.

Bugaje lamented that INEC had already lost a great deal of credibility and that, without decisive reforms, both the commission and the democratic process would crumble.

He dismissed calls for zoning the position of INEC chairman as “childish,” insisting that competence, not geography, should guide such appointments.

On the 2027 elections, Bugaje alleged that politicians were already plotting to infiltrate INEC structures. He urged the Federal Government and the National Assembly to deploy technology and pass relevant legislation immediately to safeguard the process.

He warned: “If this failure continues, it will erode not only confidence in INEC, but also confidence in democracy itself. And when that happens, the consequences will be dire. We have seen examples in Nepal and what is brewing in Kenya.”

The activist also reignited the third term controversy, maintaining that former President Olusegun Obasanjo indeed attempted to extend his tenure.

“I can confirm to you that Obasanjo looked for a third term. He worked day and night to actualise it. Those who distributed inducements, those who collected, and those who resisted are still alive. This is incontrovertible. Let him take me up on it,” Bugaje declared.

He, however, concluded on an optimistic note, stressing that Nigeria has enormous potential which can only be realised through credible elections, strong institutions and competent leadership.