A human rights activist and President, Centre for Better Society in Nigeria, Vincent Ibhaze, has challenged Nigerians to wake up to their responsibilities, especially as the 2027 election season draws closer and be ready to resist electoral malpractice.
Ibhaze urged Nigerians to be ready to work together to build an electoral system in which every vote counts, every mandate is respected, and leaders are chosen through credible, transparent, and genuinely democratic processes.
According to him : “What Nigeria needs today is not another generation of leaders who see electoral power as a personal possession. We need citizens, political leaders, civil society organisations, and institutions that will collectively reject electoral fraud and defend the integrity of our democratic processes.
“Only by doing so can we lay the foundation for accountable leadership, good governance, and a better society for all Nigerians.”
He noted that when President Goodluck Jonathan lost in the 2015 presidential election, he conceded defeat and peacefully handed over power to Muhammadu Buhari without resorting to the courts.
“If he had been power-drunk, as some political bigots appear to be today, he could have attempted to manipulate the electoral process, refused to concede, and subsequently use the powers of the presidency to influence or manipulate the judiciary in an attempt to remain in office.
“For this reason, I consider Goodluck Ebele Jonathan one of the finest democrats Nigeria has ever produced. His decision to concede defeat demonstrated a commendable commitment to democratic principles, constitutionalism, and the peaceful transfer of power.”
He also pleaded with President Olusegun Obasanjo to exercise restraints while commenting on some political issues in the interest of peace and conducive political environment.
Saying: “In my view, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, should exercise restraint when commenting on matters of this nature. Rather than continually positioning himself as a moral authority on Nigeria’s democracy, he should acknowledge the shortcomings and controversies associated with his own administration, seek the forgiveness of Nigerians, and, above all, seek God’s mercy for the political wrongs and excesses that occurred during his tenure.
“The electoral practices that became deeply entrenched during that period—including allegations of electoral manipulation, multiple thumb-printing of ballot papers, ballot-box stuffing, falsification of votes, and the alleged manipulation or purchase of judicial outcomes, contributed significantly to the deterioration of Nigeria’s electoral system. In that sense, one could argue that the political culture established during the Obasanjo era created a template that subsequent political actors have continued to exploit.
“Many of those who emerged from that political environment have continued to play the same game, perpetuating a cycle of electoral malpractice, political manipulation, and the abuse of state institutions for political advantage.
“Nevertheless, Obasanjo’s recent interventions may also suggest that he has come to recognise some of the mistakes of the past.
“If that is indeed the case, Nigerians should be willing to forgive him, provided that such recognition is accompanied by genuine remorse and a sincere commitment to correcting the wrongs of the past.”