ABUJA, Nigeria — For decades, Nigerians approached election seasons with a familiar mixture of hope, anxiety and scepticism, public affairs analyst Timothy Enietan-Matthews has said, noting that these concerns became deeply ingrained in the nation’s democratic culture after years of disputed elections, delayed result collation, logistical failures and allegations of electoral malpractice.
Enietan-Matthews made the observation in a statement on Tuesday, reflecting on the recurring questions that have shaped the electoral experience of Nigerians over the years. He noted that voters often asked the same questions: Would election materials arrive on time? Would results be manipulated during transmission? Would the final outcome reflect the will of the people? Would the electoral umpire be able to withstand pressure from political actors?
According to the analyst, these concerns have persisted across multiple election cycles, undermining public confidence in the electoral process and making electoral credibility one of the most important challenges confronting Nigeria’s democracy. He argued that the repeated setbacks have created a cycle of mistrust that is difficult to break, as citizens become increasingly cynical about the integrity of elections and their ability to effect change through the ballot box.
Enietan-Matthews traced the roots of this mistrust to the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, which he described as a watershed moment in Nigeria’s electoral history. He noted that the annulment, which was widely believed to have been won by the late Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola, dealt a severe blow to public confidence in the electoral process and set a precedent for electoral manipulation that has persisted in various forms.
He also highlighted the challenges of the 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019, and 2023 elections, each of which was accompanied by allegations of irregularities, violence, and manipulation. While acknowledging that some progress has been made, including the introduction of technology such as the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV), Enietan-Matthews argued that these innovations have not fully addressed the underlying issues of trust and transparency.
The analyst called for a comprehensive reform of Nigeria’s electoral system, including strengthening the independence of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), improving voter education, and ensuring accountability for electoral offences. He stressed that without these reforms, the cycle of mistrust would continue to undermine the legitimacy of elections and the democratic process as a whole.
Enietan-Matthews also urged political actors to embrace issue-based campaigns and to respect the outcome of elections, noting that the behaviour of political leaders plays a critical role in shaping public perception of the electoral process. He called on the media, civil society, and citizens to remain vigilant and hold electoral officials and political actors accountable.
As Nigeria prepares for the 2027 general elections, the analyst’s reflections serve as a sobering reminder of the work that remains to be done. For now, the challenge of building electoral credibility continues to test the resilience of Nigeria’s democracy.
