Former Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, has said that Nigeria’s electoral challenges persist not only because of political leaders but also because citizens have failed to fully recognize and exercise their collective power.
Delivering his Goodwill Message at the Fifth Anniversary Public Lecture of First Daily newspaper in Abuja, themed “How Can Our Vote Count?”, Amaechi asserted that no incumbent government in Nigeria has ever been willing to carry out genuine electoral reform.
“The problem with elections in Nigeria,” he said, “is that there is no incumbent government that is ready to do electoral reform.”
Amaechi argued that while many Nigerians blame the political elite for the country’s electoral woes, the larger problem lies with the general populace.
“The problem with Nigeria is Nigeria, not the elite — because how many elites are there?” he asked. “While the elite discuss how to get to power, the voters are helping them.”
He urged Nigerians to rise up and hold politicians accountable, warning that electoral manipulation must no longer be tolerated.
“Show politicians that there will be fire if the elections are rigged,” Amaechi declared. “It depends on how prepared the opposition and the people are.”
READ ALSO: Sam Amadi Warns: Nigeria Risks Conflict Without Credible Elections
The former governor of Rivers State emphasized that meaningful electoral reform must begin with the people, not just government institutions.
“The first solution to election reform is not the government but the people. Tell the people the power is in your hands — come out!” he said.
Citing President Bola Tinubu’s loss of Lagos State in the 2023 presidential election as proof that no politician is invincible, Amaechi remarked:
“If Tinubu is invisible, how could he lose Lagos State in the last election?”
Amaechi’s comments added a charged dimension to the event, which also featured Senator Henry Seriake Dickson (CON) and First Daily publisher, Dr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson, both of whom called for deeper democratic participation and integrity in Nigeria’s electoral process.