Bye-Elections and Electoral Buying in Nigeria

 Ahead of Nigeria’s major general elections scheduled for early next year, a few by‑elections have taken place as practice runs. The governorship contest in Ekiti State and the senatorial race in Nasarawa North are being watched as illustrative examples.

In January 2027, Nigerians will vote again for the first time in four years to decide the country’s direction. The 2023 election that brought President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to office, along with the selection of various political leaders nationwide, has shaped the past three years. Many Nigerians remain dissatisfied.

The issue has long been that Nigerians often make unsatisfactory choices. Selecting political leaders is a personal decision, yet it carries significant consequences for the nation. Voters should seek compassion and vision.

Many of Nigeria’s leaders have instead displayed a toxic blend of greed and avoidance when addressing national problems, lacking compassion and vision.

Democracy in Nigeria has often been treated as a performative exercise. Since the return to civilian rule in 1999, Nigerians have enjoyed a period largely free from military control. However, a series of elections since 1999 has revealed a troubling trend of vote buying.

The pattern has become so entrenched that it is common for Nigerians to openly state that their votes are for sale before elections. This attitude and its accompanying misery have become a curse for the country.

On June 20, voters in Nasarawa North Senatorial District and Ekiti State went to the polls. In Nasarawa North, the by‑election was triggered by the death of Senator Godiya Akwashiki, who had represented the district in the National Assembly. Ekiti