Former Bayelsa State Governor Senator Henry Seriake Dickson has expressed concern over Nigeria’s electoral integrity. He recently warned that the increasing rate of vote manipulation and voter apathy pose serious threats to the country’s democracy.
Speaking at the fifth anniversary lecture of First Daily newspaper, held in Abuja, with the theme “2027: How Can We Make Our Votes Count?” Seriake said that electoral fraud is a coup against the people’s sovereignty.
According to him, the subversion of popular will through rigged elections is a trend that cannot be allowed to continue because it clearly violates citizens’ rights to freely choose their leaders.
He lamented the partnership between politicians, security agencies and electoral officials to falsify results and deny the people the right to their choice of leaders.
“We have a long way to go in protecting the sovereignty that the constitution says belongs to the people. Rigging of elections is the worst coup you can plan.
When politicians and electoral umpires fabricate results that bear no relation to the votes cast, that’s a coup against democracy,” he said.
Former Rivers State Governor and ex-Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, further took a swipe at the political class, stressing that politicians are frustrating reform efforts for personal gain.
He concluded by faulting opposition parties for refusing to discuss how they can save the nation.
“The problem with elections in Nigeria is that no incumbent government can achieve electoral reform — none. We tried it and failed.
The opposition is part of the problem. They are not discussing how to save Nigeria. Nobody is asking how to change things.
The first solution to electoral reform is not government — it’s the people. The more you say the results are already written, the more people stay home. That apathy will make the incumbent stay in power,” he added.
