Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Jibrin Okutepa, has criticised the ongoing wave of political realignments in Nigeria, questioning whether they serve the interests of citizens or merely advance the personal ambitions of the political class ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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In a series of remarks shared on his official X account, Okutepa argued that Nigerian politicians are not driven by the welfare of the people but by a desire to control and share power among themselves, often at the expense of an already impoverished populace.
He lamented that as the 2027 elections approach, politics in the country is increasingly characterised by bitterness, division, and self-interest, rather than clear policy direction or people-focused programmes.
“Politicians are not fighting for the interests of Nigerians. It is about how they want to share power among themselves,” he stated, adding that the absence of credible manifestos and people-oriented policies reflects a deeper failure of democratic practice.
The senior lawyer painted a grim picture of the nation’s socio-economic condition, describing Nigeria as “bleeding” while ordinary citizens continue to endure hardship, poverty, and declining living standards.
According to him, widespread poverty has been deliberately weaponised by politicians to manipulate voters, leading to situations where citizens sell their votes for meagre sums due to economic desperation.
He further argued that the principle of popular sovereignty is undermined in Nigeria, alleging that electoral outcomes are often determined by powerful political actors rather than the will of the people.
“In Nigeria, power is snatched from those the people want and handed to those the godfathers prefer,” he said, warning that the absence of accountability has eroded public trust in governance.
Okutepa also criticised what he described as the misuse of the judicial system in political disputes, noting that many politicians flood the courts with cases that fall outside the scope of legally permissible electoral matters.
Citing relevant provisions of the Constitution and the Electoral Act, he maintained that only specific disputes particularly those relating to party primaries and candidate nomination are justiciable, accusing some politicians of deliberately filing frivolous suits to create confusion and destabilise the political process.
He warned that such actions not only undermine the rule of law but also weaken democratic institutions, as those responsible for enforcing accountability are either compromised or unable to act independently.
The SAN concluded that the ongoing political conflicts within parties are largely driven by selfish interests rather than genuine concern for national development, urging politicians to prioritise the welfare of Nigerians and restore integrity to the democratic process.
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