Alhaji Buba Galadima, an elder statesman and public commentator, warned Nigerians to resist any attempts to manipulate the 2027 general election during the sixth edition of the Frontier Discourse Annual Public Lecture Series and Awards held at Merit House, Maitama, Abuja on Tuesday.
Speaking under the theme “Barrel to Ballot: The Naturalisation of Violence, Nigeria’s Polity, and its Democratic Circus,” Galadima urged voters not to surrender their electoral rights. “They should resist all temptations to rig them out. Or else they become slaves forever,” he said, calling on older citizens to speak up for the youth, who make up 54 per cent of the population but, he argued, have not been given sufficient opportunities to influence the country’s political direction.
Galadima also questioned the neutrality of key democratic institutions. He accused the judiciary, National Assembly, security agencies and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of aligning with political actors rather than acting independently. “The security people are not working for Nigeria. They are working for one transient person. They are supposed to be neutral,” he said. “INEC, which is supposed to be independent, is more Tinubu than independent, more APC than independent.”
“I certainly disagree with him. I think if we do not vote, because they bank on citizens’ apathy in participation, be it elections, be it anything. So if there is apathy, obviously they will do what they want,” said Hon. Zainab Buba Galadima, the elder’s daughter and former councillor in the Abuja Municipal Area Council. She urged young people to participate actively in elections and other civic processes, noting that insecurity hampers democratic participation and that citizens must defend their values and take responsibility for the country’s future.
Zainab also questioned the presentation of government programmes such as the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), arguing that education loans should not be portrayed as acts of benevolence without acknowledging the financial obligations they impose on beneficiaries.
Dr Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh, Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, highlighted the role of technology in reducing electoral malpractice. He said the shift from manual voter registration and voting to technology‑assisted processes has helped curb ballot snatching and stuffing, and that sustained public engagement is needed to deepen democratic participation. “Electioneering should be issue‑based, not bringing violence, but speaking to the people to win their hearts and win their votes,” he added.
The event also honoured several figures: the Inspector‑General of Police Olatunji Rilwan Disu, human rights lawyer Femi Falana, and Charles Aniagolu, a senior editor and news anchor with Arise News, who was named Media Person of the Year in the Broadcast Television category. Alhaji Buba Galadima received the Lifetime Achievement Award.
<small>Source: Vanguard News — read the original story there.</small>
