A Professor of International Relations and Political Science at Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Jideofor Adibe, has said that Nigeria’s frequent electoral cycles are making nation-building more difficult and deepening political tensions across the country.
Speaking in a recent interview on Channels Television, the professor explained that the country’s democratic process, while important, has become highly competitive to the point where elections resemble “war without weapons,” leaving behind divisions that are rarely resolved before the next election cycle begins.
According to him, the continuous repetition of elections every four years prevents political actors and citizens from fully healing from the tensions and conflicts generated during previous polls, thereby weakening efforts to build long-term national unity.
“You organize elections every four years. The wounds from one election are hardly healed before another election begins,” he said, noting that the cycle has created a persistent atmosphere of political rivalry rather than cooperation.
Adibe argued that in more stable democracies, the basic principles of statehood are already agreed upon, allowing political opponents to quickly reconcile after elections and work together in the national interest. In contrast, he said, Nigeria’s political environment remains deeply divided even after results are declared.
He also expressed concern about public confidence in the electoral process, questioning whether citizens still believe their votes truly count. He further raised doubts about whether the significant resources spent on elections and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) are justified by the outcomes produced.
The political scientist suggested that Nigeria should begin to rethink its governance structure, arguing that the current electoral system may not be delivering the stability the country needs. He proposed the idea of a collegial system of government in which representatives from the six geopolitical zones would collectively govern for extended periods, such as 12 years, before rotation.
Adibe also warned against the personalization of political power and what he described as the “reproduction of the elite,” where political offices are increasingly being passed within families, a development he said could trigger public resentment and radical reactions over time.
He further questioned whether a change in leadership alone, such as replacing President Bola Tinubu, would significantly alter Nigeria’s broader structural challenges, arguing that the country’s problems are deeper than individual office holders.
“If you remove Tinubu and put another person there, how are we sure things would work?” he asked.
The professor maintained that Nigeria’s governance challenges require more fundamental reforms that go beyond elections and leadership changes, stressing the need for a system that reduces political tension, strengthens unity, and supports long-term nation building.
