A new report from the Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD) has raised serious concerns over Nigeria’s democratic future, warning that politics is becoming a game only the wealthy can afford to play. The report, titled “How Money is Undermining Nigeria’s Democracy”, was launched in Abuja with support from the European Union and paints a troubling picture of rising costs, weakened institutions, and shrinking civic participation.
At the heart of the findings is a sobering statistic: post-election litigation in Nigeria may now cost up to ₦1 billion to pursue—effectively pricing justice and electoral contests far beyond the reach of everyday Nigerians. In some cases, senior lawyers reportedly charge between ₦500 million and ₦1 billion to handle disputes from tribunal level all the way to the Supreme Court.
For young people, women, and persons with disabilities, this financial barrier is more than discouraging—it’s exclusionary.
WFD’s report further revealed that campaign costs have spiraled out of control. For example, House of Representatives tickets now cost up to ₦500 million, while leading governorship candidates in recent Edo and Ondo elections spent between ₦2.3 billion and ₦3.8 billion. Despite spending limits being clearly set in the Electoral Act, enforcement remains weak—if not entirely absent.
“The judiciary is now a strategic, yet prohibitively expensive extension of the electoral process,” the report noted, casting doubt on the accessibility of both elections and post-election redress mechanisms.
At the same time, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is moving ahead with preparations for upcoming elections. During its second quarterly meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs), INEC Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, unveiled the electoral timetable for 2025 and 2026, which includes five major elections.
Among the dates announced:
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By-elections in 12 states – August 16, 2025
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Anambra Governorship Election – November 8, 2025
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FCT Area Council Elections – February 21, 2026
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Ekiti Governorship Election – June 20, 2026
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Osun Governorship Election – August 8, 2026
Yakubu also confirmed the nationwide resumption of Continuous Voter Registration (CVR)—online pre-registration will begin on August 18, 2025, while in-person registration kicks off a week later. For Anambra State, the CVR will begin earlier to meet legal deadlines ahead of its gubernatorial race.
INEC is also working on new supplementary regulations to clarify the controversial Section 65 of the Electoral Act, which deals with reviewing election results. Conflicting interpretations of this section have raised tension in previous elections, prompting the Commission to issue clearer operational guidelines soon.
INEC’s Chairman didn’t hold back in his remarks to the RECs: “You are the face of INEC in your states. You must implement policies proactively without waiting for directives from the headquarters,” he warned, stressing the importance of leadership at all levels of the Commission.
But despite INEC’s ongoing reforms and election planning, the WFD report serves as a stark reminder: without addressing the financial barriers to participation, Nigeria’s democracy may increasingly serve only the highest bidder—leaving millions of voices unheard.
As the 2027 general elections approach, the challenge for policymakers, civil society, and electoral bodies is clear: make politics affordable, accessible, and accountable—or risk losing the very foundation of democratic governance.
