Any Election Where President Picks INEC Chair Is A Sham’ — Bugaje

Political activist and civil society leader, Dr Usman Bugaje, has declared that Nigeria’s democracy is on the brink of collapse, warning that any election in which the president appoints the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is nothing but a sham.

Speaking on ARISE News on Monday, Bugaje said no democracy could stand when a sitting president has the power to select the referee of a contest in which he is also a player.

“I don’t think the president, and I don’t mean this president, any president should have a hand in selecting the INEC chairman,” he said.

“Any election that the president will participate in and he will be the one to bring in who will be the INEC chair, I think it’s a sham election. It’s just like Chelsea Football Club bringing the referee that will ref a match against Manchester United. That’s what it feels like.”

Bugaje warned that INEC had already lost much of its credibility and that without urgent reforms, both the commission and Nigeria’s democracy would collapse.

“If this failure continues, then it will erode not only confidence in INEC, but confidence in democracy itself. And when that happens, you know the consequences,” he cautioned.

The former lawmaker dismissed zoning of the INEC chairmanship as a “childish idea” that has dragged Nigeria “down the drain” for the past 25 years.

“What we really require are competent people to fix our problems. If people start taking turns to destroy this country, where is the country going to be?” he asked.

On the 2027 elections, Bugaje raised the alarm that politicians are already plotting to infiltrate INEC structures.

He argued that only technology, backed by timely legislation, could stop such schemes. “This is something that can be done in the next one, two, three weeks if the president or if there is sufficient pressure from the public,” he said.

Bugaje urged civil society and citizens to mount political pressure, warning that ignoring the people could trigger unrest.

“There are consequences if people rise to a particular point and those in power refuse to listen to the people,” he warned. “We have seen what has happened in Nepal. We have seen what is brewing in Kenya.”

The activist also reignited the third term controversy, insisting that former President Olusegun Obasanjo indeed sought to extend his rule.

“I can confirm to you that Obasanjo looked for a third term. He did everything that he could within his power to get a third term. All of us in the National Assembly at that time knew beyond any doubt that he worked day and night,” he claimed.

According to him, those who distributed inducements, those who collected them, and those who resisted are still alive.

“Obasanjo should really come back to his senses and begin to see what contribution he can make to improve his country. But this is a matter that is incontrovertible. There is no way he can avoid it. Let him take me up. Absolutely. Let him take me up,” he declared.

Bugaje concluded by stressing that Nigeria holds immense promise for the future, but only credible elections, independent institutions and competent leadership can unlock it.