Former Lagos State Governor and former Minister of Works, Housing and Power, Babatunde Fashola, has described elections as inherently imperfect exercises, urging political actors to recognise the complexities involved in conducting nationwide polls.
![](https://thenigerialawyer.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/ELLAN.png")
![](https://thenigerialawyer.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2026-Summer-IDRI-Masterclass.jpg")
Fashola spoke on Friday at The Platform, a public policy forum held in Lagos as part of activities marking Democracy Day.
According to him, elections, especially presidential elections, involve massive logistical operations across the federation, making absolute perfection difficult to achieve.
“Elections are an imperfect event because they require a large logistical operation across a federation,” Fashola said.
He explained that in a presidential election, thousands of polling units across the country are required to conduct the same process at the same time, often under different local conditions and operational challenges.
“The reality of a presidential election is that all polling units across the nation have to be doing the same thing at the same time. The question then is how we assign blame when things go wrong, especially when the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission cannot be everywhere at the same time,” he stated.
Fashola said electoral imperfections are not peculiar to Nigeria, adding that established democracies also acknowledge such challenges while working continuously to improve their systems.
“In other jurisdictions, they accept these imperfections and aspire to improve, but they also accept the results,” he said.
The former minister expressed concern over what he described as the growing reluctance of some political actors to accept election outcomes.
He warned that refusal to accept electoral defeat may prevent unsuccessful candidates and parties from playing the important role of opposition in a democracy.
“It seems to me that an unwillingness to accept the outcome of an election perhaps blinds the unsuccessful participants from seeking and taking up the role of opposition for the development of society,” he said.
Fashola stressed that opposition politics is an essential part of democratic governance and should not be viewed only through the lens of electoral victory or defeat.
According to him, democracy goes beyond elections and must include strong institutions, accountability, responsible citizenship and a political culture that supports national development.
“If we are to discuss democracy beyond elections, the question I ask is: What kind of democracy do we want?” he asked.
His remarks formed part of broader discussions at the event on the state of Nigeria’s democracy, governance, accountability and the responsibilities of political leaders and citizens in sustaining democratic institutions.
Fashola maintained that while elections remain a vital part of democracy, the real test of democratic maturity lies in the ability of institutions, citizens and political actors to uphold democratic values even after the ballots have been counted.
The book, titled The Law of Torts in Nigeria: A Functional Approach, authored by Professor Hagler Sunny Okorie Ph.D and Ikeocha, Nathaniel Ngozi Esq, offers law students, practitioners, and academics a comprehensive guide to understanding and applying tort law in Nigerian courts. Interested buyers can place orders via the following contact numbers: 08028636615, 08037667945, 08032253813, or +234 902 196 2209.
_______________________________________________________________________
“Order Your Copy Now” — Basil Momodu, Esq. Unveils Second Edition Of His Book, "Civil Procedure In Nigeria"
According to the learned author, Basil Momodu Esq. "Law review is a continuum. We will continue to track changes in the law to enrich future editions." Recommended Booksellers: Lagos: 08033855230, Abuja: 08035991379, and others.
______________________________________________________________________
[A MUST HAVE] Evidence Act Demystified With Recent And Contemporary Cases And Materials
Interested buyers are encouraged to place their orders and enquiries via:
0704 444 4777, 0704 444 4999, 0818 199 9888
Website: www.alexandernigeria.com
As an added bonus, every purchase comes with a FREE ebook titled: “AI in Legalpedia and Law Pavilion: A Research Guide.”
Ohio Books Ltd praises the publication, stating:
"....this is the only Nigerian book I know of on the topic."
How to Order:
📞 Call, Text, or WhatsApp: 08034917063 | 07055285878
📧 Email: benadigwe1@gmail.com
🌎 Website: www.benadigwe.com
Ebook Version: Access it directly online at https://selar.com/prv626
