Nigerian political figure and former ally of ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, Buba Galadima, has issued a stark warning over the state of the country’s democratic process, urging Nigerians to unite across ethnic lines to demand sweeping electoral reforms.
In a wide-ranging interview, Galadima lamented what he described as the self-serving nature of political elites in power, accusing them of prioritizing personal interests over national development. The former All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain expressed deep concern about the current political climate, warning that unless urgent amendments are made to the Electoral Act, the 2027 general elections may prove futile.
“We should forget the 2027 elections if we don’t amend the Electoral Act. Votes are not counting, and courts are affirming decisions that do not reflect the will of the people,” Galadima stated. “Nigerians must rise up and demand a system where every vote truly counts.He also pointed to recent political developments in Kano and Rivers states as evidence of deep-rooted institutional dysfunction. Galadima criticized what he described as the imposition of decisions from Abuja on local matters, including traditional leadership appointments and power struggles among elected officials.
He warned President Bola Tinubu to be cautious of the people surrounding him, suggesting that some within his inner circle could undermine his administration.
“Look at what is happening in Rivers. An unelected person is uprooting an elected official. It’s happening in the Senate too. This is not about ethnicity. Hunger and poverty don’t discriminate. It affects Yoruba, Hausa, and Igbo alike,” he said.
Galadima, who parted ways with the APC after being removed from its Board of Trustees and National Caucus, emphasized that the future of the country depends on national unity and a collective push for justice and accountability. “The point is that what happened to an Igbo man can happen to a Hausa man and a Yoruba man,” he concluded. “We must come together to fight for a system that works for everyone, not just for a privileged few.”
