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From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja
Former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega, has said that electoral integrity is critical to the development of Nigeria’s democracy.
This was contained in his keynote address at the ninth convocation ceremony of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), yesterday, in Abuja. He said no democracy could survive in an environment where politicians continuously undermine institutions meant to ensure credible polls.
The former INEC boss, who spoke on the topic, ‘Electoral Integrity as a Panacea for Democratic Development in Nigeria,’ stated that Nigeria’s democracy would remain fragile unless urgent steps were taken to restore integrity of the electoral process.
Jega, while canvassing for more electoral reforms in the country, noted that there is a nexus between credible polls and good governance and wondered why democracy, which in comparison to other forms of government, is the best system of government, has failed to satisfy the aspirations of Nigerians.
“Regrettably, for 25 years, Nigeria has been muddling through democratic development, with aspirations for democratic consolidation, which have been remarkably constrained by enormous challenges, particularly as it concerns electoral integrity.
“Others are the inadequacy of the quality of representation, lack of sufficient integrity of the electoral processes and failure of governance to address the fundamental needs and aspirations of citizens for physical quality of life, human security and human dignity.
“Addressing these persistent challenges would require continuous and concerted efforts to reform the electoral process and improve the integrity of the preparation and conduct of elections, which have a direct correlation with the quality of representation and governance that are primary requirements for democratic development and consolidation,” he said.
The former INEC boss, while pushing for electoral integrity, noted that it could help strengthen public and democratic institutions, including the judiciary, legislature and the electoral body, as well as the police.
He said: “When there is electoral integrity, the tendency of political violence is minimal. Also, the role of strong and credible civil society organisations and effective media oversight can help in aiding democratic development in Nigeria.
“Electoral integrity can be a catalyst towards realising democracy’s development potential. Also, when conducted with integrity, electoral processes are at the heart of democracy’s ability to resolve conflict peacefully.
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“Electoral integrity can also deepen democratic development and enhance public deliberation and reasoning about salient issues and how to address them collectively and constructively. Electoral integrity also has the potential of lessening corruption in all electoral processes.
“Electoral integrity is absolutely essential for deepening democratic development. Electoral integrity is an instrument for strengthening development as it is conventionally understood, but also for expanding the concept of development to include a broader and deeper range of human needs.
“Electoral integrity may not be the ultimate solution, as a panacea for democratic development, but it is, no doubt, one of the most essential foundations for democratic development in Nigeria, as it would certainly enhance legitimacy, promote good democratic governance, engender general trust in public institutions and the governance process generally and encourage citizen’s active participation in the electoral and democratic processes.
“Indeed, increasing the integrity of our elections is a task that must be done so as to hasten desirable democratic development in Nigeria.”
Earlier, the Director-General of NILDS, Professor Abubakar Sulaiman, in his welcome address, said the Institute’s academic programmes were designed to bridge knowledge and capacity gaps in democratic institutions across the country.
Sulaiman disclosed that 79 students graduated from various programmes, including 19 from the Higher National Diploma courses, nine from Postgraduate Diploma programmes and 51 from Master’s degree programmes.
According to him, “Established by an Act of the National Assembly, NILDS remains the only statutory body mandated to serve as a think-tank for deepening democratic governance in Nigeria. Our programmes contribute to addressing the knowledge gap and capacity needs of public institutions and civil society.”
He charged the Federal Government to find a lasting solution to incessant strikes by the Academic Staff Union of Universities ( ASUU), stating that there is a connection with funding for higher institutions and human capital development.
“I want to use this occasion to call on the government to continue to prioritise funding for tertiary education through increased budgetary allocation.
“While we have already seen the synergy of the executive and legislative arms, prioritising education sector, as shown in the eight-point agenda of the executive and legislative agenda of the 10th National Assembly, I urge the government to match words with action by increasing allocation to the education sector in the 2026 Appropriation Act of the Federal Government and in the Appropriation Laws of state governments in the 2026 fiscal year.”
