The nation’s political elite has already begun the process of rigging the 2027 general elections, according to Professor Adele Jinadu, a popular political scientist.
Speaking at the Policy Dialogue on “State of Anti-Corruption Policy and Practice in Nigeria” in Abuja, he alleged that political manipulation is evident in the appointment of known party members as commissioners of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“They have started the process of rigging the next general election through the appointment of known party members,” Jinadu said. “Next year, many commissioners will be due for re-appointment. They will use the power of appointment to put those who will do their bidding.”
Jinadu also highlighted how vote-buying is entrenched in Nigeria’s political system, calling for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to focus on the monetary transactions at party primaries instead of targeting voters receiving small amounts.
“Vote buying is done through procurement, they are amassing war chests for 2027. EFCC should go to party primaries where they give huge amounts of not only naira but even dollars to buy party tickets, instead of going after poor voters who get just N2,000 or N4,000.”
The professor emphasized the urgent need for Nigerians to actively oppose the manipulation of electoral processes and systemic corruption. “We must not fold our arms doing nothing. I am not tired of fighting. We must not give up. We must speak truth to power.”
Addressing the broader anti-corruption landscape, Jinadu criticized the political interference affecting the EFCC and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Offences Commission (ICPC). He noted that the frequent changes in leadership of these bodies hinder their effectiveness, citing the EFCC’s nine chairpersons since its inception in 2003.
“The tragedy of our democratic politics and the underlying causative roots of the problem of corruption is that our political class continues to push its self-interest, almost to the point not only of their own self-destruction but also of stultifying our national development,” he added.
Jinadu also pointed to the abuse of incumbency power as a critical issue, describing it as “the worst form of political corruption” that undermines the democratic principle of electoral fairness.
In concluding, he called for judicial reforms to combat corruption effectively. “We must begin a process of reforming our legal system in fundamental ways and away from their excessive formalism and elitist bias,” he said, advocating for a legal framework that supports social and distributive justice.