Political commentator Mahdi Shehu has described Nigeria’s democracy as a joke.
He was reacting to the recent bye-elections in Kano State.
According to him, this is because the democratic process is being undermined by cash inducements and systemic failures.
He shared a video on X, on Monday showing a politician distributing money, while commenting on the situation.
“Democracy is simply a joke in Nigeria where everybody is living in denial until suddenly that day comes,” he said.
Shehu highlighted how politicians openly gave money to voters, with security agencies allegedly standing by without intervention.
He said, “The politicians are unapologetic in inducing the electorates with money, and the police are often willing to facilitate this and support them. Voters and thugs are eager for the politicians’ one-off ‘cash gifts,’ while election officials will always look the other way for a price.
“INEC does not have the courage to enforce the law against monetary and material inducement because even INEC itself is unteachable. Election tribunals and courts are unlikely to admit such evidence as credible, since some of their members are part of the democratic failures. Yet local and foreign election observers will validate the results regardless.”
