Democracy Without Depth: Former Chairman INEC Jega Demands Urgent Reforms to Rescue Nigeria’s Republic

 

Despite nearly 30 years of uninterrupted civil rule, Nigeria’s democracy remains dangerously fragile and shallow, according to Professor Attahiru Muhammadu Jega, former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Addressing a national audience at The Platform Nigeria: June 12, 2025 Edition, hosted by The Covenant Nation Global in Lagos, Jega painted a stark picture of democratic decay masked by ceremonial compliance.

Though the country boasts of regular elections, political campaigns, and leadership transitions, Jega argued that these are only surface-level markers of democracy. “We have perfected the rituals,” he said, “but failed to build the substance — institutions that work, leaders who serve, and a citizenry that trusts.” The professor of political science from Bayero University, Kano, warned that elected leaders have become democracy’s greatest threat rather than its protectors.

At the heart of Nigeria’s broken political framework, he highlighted, lies the constitutional immunity granted to top executive officers. Initially conceived to shield presidents and governors from distractions during their tenure, Jega asserts that the clause has evolved into a license for unaccountable governance and brazen corruption. “For four or eight years, they are untouchable — above the law,” he noted. “This is not democracy; it is elected autocracy. The immunity clause must go.”

Removing immunity, he cautioned, is just the first step in a long journey of rebuilding. The judiciary, often referred to as the last hope of the common man, has itself become a casualty of political manipulation and systemic neglect. From opaque judicial appointments to inadequate funding, Jega described a justice system compromised at every level. He observed that many judges are now beholden to the very executives they are supposed to restrain, leading to delayed justice, conflicting court orders, and an erosion of public trust.

To halt the slide, he advocated sweeping judicial reforms — prioritizing merit in judicial appointments, ensuring financial independence for the courts, and mandating that all election disputes be resolved before elected officials assume office. He added, “A judiciary that cannot stand independently is like a car without brakes. Disaster is inevitable.”

The media, another pillar of democracy, also drew Jega’s attention. While the press is expected to serve as watchdog and voice of the people, journalists in Nigeria often operate in a climate of fear and repression. From harassment to censorship, and from denied access to state information to co-optation by political interests, the space for free and responsible journalism continues to shrink. “If journalists cannot investigate or speak truth to power without fear,” Jega remarked, “then democratic oversight collapses.”

He called for the full enforcement of the Freedom of Information Act and punitive measures for public agencies that violate it. At the same time, he challenged media practitioners to embrace ethical standards and reject disinformation and sensationalism, both of which fuel division and weaken democratic discourse.

Elections, though central to democratic practice, are not enough, Jega insisted. While praising INEC’s advancements in technology — including biometric accreditation and electronic result transmission — he highlighted structural weaknesses. The Commission is overburdened with responsibilities it cannot realistically execute alone, such as prosecuting electoral offenders and regulating political parties. Jega called for unbundling the electoral body, delegating its non-core functions to independent institutions, and securing INEC’s neutrality by removing executive control over its leadership appointments.

One of the more systemic challenges Jega identified is the overwhelming dominance of the executive branch at both state and federal levels. According to him, Nigeria’s presidents and governors have become bloated with unchecked power, using public offices as vehicles for patronage, not service. Security votes are spent without oversight, loyalists are rewarded with plum roles regardless of competence, and legislative scrutiny is routinely ignored.

To recalibrate this imbalance, Jega proposed drastic reductions in political appointments, enforced transparency in public expenditures, and adherence to budgetary discipline. "Budgets should be blueprints, not suggestions," he said.

But even the strongest institutions are meaningless, he emphasized, without active, engaged citizens. Apathy, driven by years of corruption and exclusion, has led many Nigerians to disengage from the political process. “Democracy cannot be outsourced,” Jega warned. “It must be reclaimed by the people.” He called for broader participation through diaspora voting rights, early voting for essential workers, and legislative quotas for women, youth, and persons with disabilities.

He concluded with a sobering warning and an urgent appeal: “What Nigeria needs is not just elections every four years, but a full democratic reset. Civil rule must not be mistaken for democratic governance. If we continue down this road of weak institutions and unaccountable power, we risk more than stagnation — we risk collapse.”

In his closing note, Jega urged Nigerians to rise beyond ethnic loyalties and handout politics. “We are not doomed, but we are running out of time. Let the reforms begin. Let the people rise. Let democracy, finally, be real.”