Alhaji Buba Galadima Precious Nwonu 

Elder statesman and political commentator, Alhaji Buba Galadima, has urged Nigerians to resist electoral manipulation and defend their votes in the 2027 general elections, warning that failure to do so could threaten their democratic rights.

Galadima made the call on Tuesday at the sixth edition of the Frontier Discourse Annual Public Lecture Series and Awards, organised by Pacesetter Frontier Magazine at Merit House, Maitama, Abuja.

The event was themed, “Barrel to Ballot: The Naturalisation of Violence, Nigeria’s Polity, and its Democratic Circus.”

Speaking on the forthcoming elections, the elder statesman urged citizens not to allow politicians to undermine their choices through electoral malpractice, stressing that Nigerians must be prepared to protect the integrity of their votes.

“They should resist all temptations to rig them out. They should. Or else they become slaves forever,” he said.

Galadima also called on older Nigerians to speak up for the younger generation, arguing that young people, despite their significant population, had not been given adequate opportunities to influence the country’s political direction.

He claimed that youths constitute 54 per cent of Nigeria’s population but lack sufficient voting power to determine the country’s leadership, urging older citizens to represent their interests.

“The most unfortunate thing is the youth who make 54 per cent of the population of the country, they have no voting rights, so they cannot change anything. So us, 46 per cent remaining, should have to make a case for them, should be their voice,” he said.

The political commentator further questioned the independence of key democratic institutions, including the judiciary, National Assembly, security agencies and the Independent National Electoral Commission.

He accused some of the institutions of failing to demonstrate the neutrality required to protect Nigeria’s democracy, alleging that their actions sometimes favoured political interests.

Galadima particularly criticised security agencies, insisting that they should remain neutral and serve the country rather than individuals in positions of authority.

“The security people are not working for Nigeria. They are working for one transient person. They are supposed to be neutral,” he said.

He also questioned INEC’s independence, accusing the electoral commission of being aligned with the ruling party.

“INEC, which is supposed to be independent. They are more Tinubu than independent. More APC than independent,” he added.Galadima received the Lifetime Achievement Award, while senior editor, news anchor and special correspondent with Arise News, Charles Aniagolu, was named Media Person of the Year in the Broadcast Television category.