Political economist and former presidential candidate, Professor Pat Utomi, has criticised Nigeria’s electoral process, saying the country has never conducted a truly free, fair and credible election since the return to democratic rule in 1999.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with Vanguard in Owerri, Utomi urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to restore public confidence by ensuring that the 2027 general elections are transparent and credible.
According to him, Nigerians deserve an electoral process that reflects the true will of the people.
“Elections have generally not been free, fair, or credible in Nigeria. Every election in Nigeria, since 1999, has been largely flawed. However, the degrees are varied. Some were better than others. When we thought we should be making progress, it became worse,” Utomi said.
The political economist described the 2023 general election as a major setback for Nigeria’s democracy, accusing INEC of failing to fully utilise its technology for transparent result management.
“The 2023 electoral exercise, for example, was a national disaster! The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) does not have the courage, till today, to upload results on its i-Rev,” he alleged.
Utomi also blamed electoral violence, voter intimidation and vote-buying for weakening Nigeria’s democratic process.
“The introduction of violence, voter intimidation, vote buying, and all such other damnable acts have made elections a huge joke in Nigeria. INEC should please save us from these vices,” he said.
Despite his concerns, Utomi expressed optimism that the country could still improve its electoral system if there is genuine political will.
“It depends very much on us to decide whether our 2023 election experience will repeat itself in 2027 or we will chart a new course in our democratic engineering,” he stated.
He also warned against any attempt to undermine the use of electoral technology, saying efforts to weaken systems like the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal could create room for manipulation.
“If somebody tells us that having an IReV is an offence or impossible, we don’t need any person to tell us that the fellow is determined to rig the next election,” Utomi said.
Beyond the electoral process, the professor expressed concern over Nigeria’s overall governance, arguing that the country’s challenges stem largely from poor leadership.
“Anybody who says that Nigeria is working is either in self-deceit, outrightly deluded, or simply dishonest,” he said.
He stressed the importance of electing leaders with integrity and good character, adding that although Nigeria faces significant challenges, he remains hopeful about the country’s future.
“This is a big failure, but it is not yet over. I am still optimistic that there will be a turnaround to the economic stimulus and fortune someday in the future for Nigeria,” Utomi concluded.
Source: Vanguard.
