The former chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, Dr. Sam Amadi, has claimed that the recently concluded general elections indicate that Nigeria is no longer a democratic state but an autocratic one.
He made this statement during the 2nd Ariyo Dare-Atoye Memorial Election Management and Governance Dialogue series held in Abuja, with the theme “Is Nigeria a democracy? Reflection on the 2023 general election.”
According to a statement made available to the press, Amadi opined that the outcome of the 2023 general elections did not entirely reflect the people’s choice, and that the conduct of the elections would further undermine public trust and participation in future elections.
The former chairman described the election as a “total desecration” and questioned why politicians could not allow for a seamless, peaceful, and fair electoral process.
Amadi particularly referenced the Independent National Electoral Commission’s refusal to transmit results on the IREV and other irregularities that occurred during the 2023 general election as clear indications of overt flaws. He stated that the fundamental principles of democracy were omitted during the elections.
In his words, “Nigeria cannot be said to be a democracy because the fundamental features of democracy- fair institutions that provide equality for everybody and guarantee basic freedoms- were largely denied in this election.” Amadi also highlighted the reckless and lamentable manner in which INEC truncated the most recent innovation of electronic transmission of results.
Moreover, he criticized governance incumbents for using security forces to distort elections, drive away voters, and rewrite results in many parts of the states, irrespective of political party affiliation.