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“To dismantle any form of dictatorship in any demo­cratic elections requires that every citizen must equally exhibit the same unethical dictatorship traits during and after each election’s period, and in that way, the process is either way, a ‘war for war’, or a ‘peace for peace’ verdict. — DSM

The present leader­ships in Nigeria are mafians, and it will only take the citi­zens’ indulgence to mafian­ism for them to counter the traits of our leaders mafian thuggery tactics. The crack down has started with an allegation that over 13 mil­lion social media have been closed, and the press under an intense tyrannical ha­rassment.

The road to 2027 is very murky, and if the citizens are still thinking about elec­tions being fair and credible without engaging in robust political discourse, holding elected officials accountable, and demanding electoral re­forms and transparency in governance, they are still disillusion.

On August 16, 2025, by-elections orchestrated by the Independent Nation­al Electoral Commission (INEC) took place across 12 states in Nigeria. Citizens queued to cast their votes, yet the process was deeply flawed, echoing the conten­tious 2023 general elections.

The results, with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) securing an overwhelming number of the contested positions, were not the primary con­cern of this piece, rather, the widespread reports of voter intimidation, ballot box snatching, vote buying, the discovery of huge amounts of money and election ma­terials in the possession of politicians within the poll­ing stations.

These irregularities painted a grim picture of Ni­gerian democracy, suggest­ing a system manipulated by individuals who claim to be democratic but act in ways that undermine the very principles of democracy.

The prevalence of these issues points to a systemic rot within the democratic framework. It’s not merely a case of isolated incidents but a pattern of behavior that has become deeply en­trenched. The allegations of rigging and voter intimi­dation mirror the concerns raised during the 2023 elec­tions, indicating a lack of progress and a persistent disregard for free and fair elections.

This situation evokes a sense of despair, a feeling that democracy has been hijacked by those entrusted with its protection. It raises questions about the effec­tiveness of civic education, the influence of misinfor­mation, and the underlying socio-economic factors that shape voting patterns.

Sadly, the irony lies in the ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’ championed by the ruling party. This agenda, intend­ed to signify progress and positive change, has instead become synonymous with the erosion of democratic values, the perpetuation of corruption and elections results manipulations. The very hope it promised seems to have vanished, leaving be­hind a sense of disillusion­ment, particularly among the younger generation.

Given these circumstanc­es, the prospect of free and fair elections in 2027 under the current electoral laws seems highly improbable. Hoping for a different out­come under the same condi­tions is akin to living in a de­lusion. The current regime has effectively transformed many Nigerians into passive participants, akin to zom­bies, devoid of dignity, and are readily manipulated. The citizenry has become a commodity, with the highest bidder claiming ownership and dictating the political landscape.

The erosion of moral val­ues and the manipulation of the electoral process are deeply concerning. The ideal voting system should minimize human interfer­ence and maximize trans­parency and security. A system where citizens can exercise their right to vote from the safety and conve­nience of their homes or polling booths, without fear of intimidation, violence, or disenfranchisement, is essential.

Until such a system is im­plemented, the current sys­tem, vulnerable to manipu­lation and exploitation, will continue to be controlled by those who benefit from the status quo.

Poverty has further disempowered Nigerians, making them pawns in the political game played by the ruling class. If this docili­ty persists into 2027, and if the belief remains that the current leadership will al­low the Security Agencies, INEC and the Judiciary to function as always, then perhaps, it would be more honest to declare the cur­rent leaders as unopposed, rather than perpetuating the charade of an election where the outcome has been prede­termined.

To change this ugly nar­rative, citizens must first of all, appraise their living standards, reflect if taking N10,000.00 to vote a scammer for 4 years is worth their well-being, and deliberately shun greed in whatsoever disguise, maybe a new Ni­geria will be possible in 2027.

Citizens must not keep quiet at the impunity of their leaders, who are cor­roborating with their cor­rupt Security Agencies, INEC officials and Judges to hoist them with people of deformed characters.

They must publicly reject leaders that were never their collective choices by stand­ing firm to their choices.

It happened in Abia and Adamawa States in 2023 Gov­ernorship elections, where the resilience of the people and the incorruptible Elec­toral Umpires stood up to defend their choices. Today, Abia and Adamawa States have been liberated by such a singular act of heroism. This is probably the best op­tion for Nigerians in 2027 if truly they want to be liberat­ed from the sharks already waiting to feed on their usu­al docile nature come 2027.

Equally important, cit­izens must involve legal and ethical methods to en­gage in peaceful protests, civil disobedience, investi­gative journalism, and re­lentless advocacy for good governance where the ugly electoral system/process remains unchanged. Dis­mantling any form of dic­tatorship in our electoral process requires a citizenry that is as determined and persistent as those who seek to undermine the democrat­ic processes.

This stark assessment is not intended to incite nega­tivity, but rather, to promote critical reflection and a re­alistic appraisal of the cur­rent political landscape that has kept us in bondage, and urgently seek out ways that can overhaul our electoral laws through NASS amend­ments before 2027 election cycle… Even as I come in PEACE.

Dr. Sunny Oby Maduka (DSM), is an Author, Resource Personality, Management Consultant/ Trainer, Chartered/Certified – Au d i t o r / A c c o u n t a n t , Financial Compliance Expert, Economic/Political Analyst Strategist, Marine Expert and Motivationist)