Nigeria’s Democratic Progress Hindered by Lack of Electoral Deterrence, Says Sam Amadi

  • Dr Sam Amadi attributes Nigeria’s democratic stagnation to weak deterrence against electoral manipulation
  • The director of the Abuja School of Social and Political Thought also called on the judiciary to reject manipulated election results
  • Amadi advocates for institutional reforms to build public trust and prevent voter apathy, emphasizing that capturing INEC, the judiciary, and security agencies erodes democracy

FCT, Abuja – Dr Sam Amadi, a prominent Nigerian legal scholar and director of the Abuja School of Social and Political Thought, has raised concerns over Nigeria’s democracy, attributing its stagnation to a lack of deterrence against electoral manipulation.

The former Chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), who spoke with TheTalk.NG, also argued that without stricter judicial intervention, politicians will continue to exploit the system with impunity.

Sam Amadi advises on solution to Nigeria's democratic challengesSam Amadi highlights key solutions to Nigeria’s electoral flaws
Photo credit: @damzithegreat/@NigerianstoriesSource: UGC

According to Dr Amadi, the judiciary must play a more active role in curbing electoral fraud.

He suggested that the courts should “reject manipulated results,” even if this means sending cases back to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for further review.

His words:

“If the courts had nullified elections tainted by excessive spending or bribery, politicians would think twice before manipulating results.”

Amadi explained that electoral malpractices have become rampant without judicial deterrence, as politicians are confident they can escape punishment.

Amadi stresses on impacts of electoral impunity

Amadi argued that unchecked manipulation deters voter participation and undermines public faith in the democratic process.

While noting that the turnout rate could continue to plummet if reforms are not enacted, he asked:

“Why would people vote if they believe the system is rigged?”

“The moral climate is eroded when people feel the system can be easily captured. If courts do not cancel flawed results, voters lose confidence,” he added.

INEC, others need reforming, says Amadi

Amadi also stressed that deepening democracy requires institutional reforms.

He advocated for measures to bolster the credibility of both INEC and the judiciary.

“Capturing INEC, judiciary, and security agencies undermines democracy,” he said.

Amadi added that effective democracy in Nigeria will depend on robust institutions that discourage manipulation and promote fairness.

Adeyanju taunts INEC as Trump wins US election

In another development, TheTalk.NG reported that Nigerian activist and lawyer Deji Adeyanju stirred reactions with his comments following the announcement of Donald Trump’s victory in the hotly contested 2024 U.S. presidential election.

Adeyanju took to social media to mock Democratic candidate Kamala Harris’s loss, suggesting Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) could “save” her.

Source: TheTalk.NG


FG Defines Bobrisky’s Saga at the Prison, Discloses Next Move
Bobrisky saga at Nigeria’s correctional centre has been described as part of the institutional issues that were being addressed Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, the minister of interior, made the assertion while speaking on the allegation that Bobrisky paid some prison officials to have special treatment in prison during his jail term for naira abuse However, the minister ... Read more Continue reading here ▶


Throwback Pictures Show Memorable Moments From Early Church Planting Experience of Bishop Abioye
Bishop David Abioye has explained that during the early period of his ministration, there were days of “no food to eat” Bishop Abioye stated that there were times in the past when he desired some things but could not afford them The cleric explained that even the greatest of stories sometimes have the simplest of ... Read more Continue reading here ▶


Deploying Carbon Market Power: Private Sector Leaders Chart Path for Sustainable Dvlpmt in Africa
TheTalk.NG journalist, Ridwan Adeola Yusuf, has over 9 years of experience covering public affairs. Ikeja, Lagos state – The private sector Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Forum concluded its 2024 edition with a resounding call to action for the private sector to leverage the carbon market as a catalyst for investment to propel a greener, ... Read more Continue reading here ▶


Tragic Childbirth in Akure: Ondo Police Arrest Prophetess Following Mother and Baby’s Deaths
Police Command has arrested a Prophetess following the tragic deaths of Jumoke Adesuwa and her newborn during childbirth The incident came to light after Adesuwa’s brother reported the case to the police, prompting an investigation Adekola has been taken into custody, and ongoing investigations aim to uncover the details surrounding this heartbreaking event The Ondo ... Read more Continue reading here ▶


Minimum Wage: Labour Leaders Send Key Warning Message to Governors Not Implementing N70k Pay
Former NLC boss, Ayuba Wabba, has said that those delaying the payment of the N70,000 minimum wage are violators of human rights Wabba asserted that once the president signed the minimum wage bill into law, the N70,000 wage became an official law in Nigeria The NLC has also stated that it will take a firm ... Read more Continue reading here ▶


Related Articles

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Back to top button

Adblock Detected

Adblock Detected, Please disable your adblock to continue browsing this website