Attahiru Jega has criticised Nigerian politicians’ “do-or-die” attitude, warning it undermines electoral integrity and democracy

Attahiru Jega, former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has condemned the “do-or-die” attitude of Nigerian politicians, warning that such desperation continues to erode the credibility of elections and threaten democracy.

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Delivering a keynote address at the joint graduation ceremony of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) and the University of Benin in Abuja, Jega lamented that despite 25 years of uninterrupted democracy, the country still struggles with malpractices, violence, and deep distrust in its electoral system.

“When we see the desperation of these politicians, it is very clear, as former President Obasanjo said, that they engage with elections with a ‘do-or-die’ mentality.

We must win by whatever means are necessary,” Jega stated.

The former INEC boss, who is also a Professor of Political Science at Bayero University, Kano, said such behaviour has eroded public trust in democratic institutions, leaving Nigeria “muddling through democratic development” since 1999.

While acknowledging that no election is ever perfect, Jega stressed that electoral integrity must be continuously improved through systemic reforms, stronger institutions, and ethical conduct.

“The credibility of elections has a direct correlation with the quality of representation and governance,” he added.

Jega traced the roots of Nigeria’s political desperation to the 2007 general elections, when then-President Olusegun Obasanjo famously described the process as a “do-or-die affair”—a phrase he said has since symbolised the nation’s zero-sum political culture marked by violence, vote-buying, and judicial battles.

Also speaking at the ceremony, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Benin, Prof. Edoba Omoregie, applauded President Bola Tinubu’s student loan scheme, describing it as a transformative policy that eases access to higher education.

“The establishment of student loans has minimised education barriers and made it possible for students from all backgrounds to pursue tertiary education with ease,” Omoregie said.

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He congratulated the graduating class of the NILDS/UNIBEN partnership—comprising 46 Masters, 19 Higher National Diploma, and nine Postgraduate Diploma recipients—for their resilience and dedication, calling the event “historic” and a celebration of academic excellence.

Source: Read more at brandcom.ng