Former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega, has criticised Nigerian politicians for their growing desperation to win elections at all costs, warning that the “do-or-die” attitude remains a major obstacle to the nation’s democratic progress.
Speaking on Monday, October 27, at the joint graduation ceremony of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies and the University of Benin in Abuja, Jega said the country’s democratic journey, despite spanning 25 years, continues to face deep challenges.
He noted that electoral malpractice, violence, and distrust in the system persist because many politicians treat elections as a battle rather than a civic duty.
“When we see the desperation of these politicians, it is very clear, as former President Obasanjo said, that they engage with elections with a ‘do-or-die’ mentality. We must win by whatever means are necessary,” Jega said.
According to him, the dangerous culture of winning at any cost has steadily weakened public confidence in elections and governance.
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He explained that Nigeria has been “literally muddling through democratic development” since 1999 due to the absence of genuine commitment to fair play.
Jega also stressed that no election is without flaws, but integrity must remain the guiding principle of every electoral process.
“No elections are perfect and none are likely to ever be,” he stated.
He added that electoral credibility “is relative and measured as a continuum from the extreme worst-case scenario to the ideal best-case scenario.”
Reflecting on Nigeria’s political history, Jega pointed out that the obsession with power has defined the political culture for decades, recalling that in 2007, then-President Olusegun Obasanjo famously described elections as a “do-or-die affair.”