The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Benue State, Prof. Sam Egwu, has accused successive Nigerian presidents since 1999 of violating the Constitution by neglecting its fundamental principles of social justice, citizen welfare, and economic inclusion.
Egwu made the allegation yesterday at the National Conference on the Future of Democracy in Nigeria, organised by the Peering Advocacy and Advancement Centre in Africa (PAACA), in Abuja.
The conference had as its theme “Sustaining Democratic Growth Beyond the Polls for Effective Governance.”
According to him, every administration since the return to democracy has governed in breach of Chapter Two of the 1999 Constitution, which outlines the state’s duty to promote the welfare, health, and education of citizens.
“All the presidents that have come since 1999 have never obeyed the Constitution,” Egwu said.
“Our Constitution commits Nigeria to social democracy, but successive governments have instead pursued liberal economic policies dictated by the World Bank and IMF, policies that contradict the social justice provisions of our Constitution.”
He urged political leaders to recommit to true democratisation and restore public confidence by ensuring that governance serves the people rather than foreign interests.
Also speaking at the event, 2027 presidential hopeful Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim warned that democracy in Africa risks losing its legitimacy if it fails to improve citizens’ lives.
He noted that democracy must go beyond elections to deliver prosperity and opportunity, adding that “people cannot eat democracy.”
“When democracy ceases to offer hope or opportunity, despair breeds nostalgia for authoritarianism,” he cautioned.
Citing Nigeria’s shrinking economy, he said the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has fallen from $574 billion in 2014 to $259 billion in 2025, reflecting rising poverty and disillusionment.
Drawing historical parallels, Olawepo-Hashim likened Africa’s fragile democracies to those of post–World War I Europe, which collapsed under economic strain and social unrest, giving rise to dictators such as Mussolini and Hitler.
He also hailed former NEC Chairman, Prof. Humphrey Nwosu, for his courage during the June 12, 1993 presidential election, describing him as “a man whose integrity gave meaning to Nigeria’s democratic journey.”
Meanwhile, the Lagos State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has dismissed former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi’s call for Nigerians to mobilise against President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 elections, describing it as “political hallucination.”
In a statement titled “Mobilise Who? A Politician Rejected at Home Cannot Lead a National Revolt,” APC spokesman Mogaji Seye Oladejo said Amaechi had become “a political orphan” with no structure or following, especially in his home state of Rivers.
“Amaechi has lost his base, followers, and relevance,” the statement read.
“He cannot mobilise a nation when his own backyard has padlocked the gate against him.”
The party maintained that while Amaechi was “busy trying to resurrect his collapsed career,” President Tinubu was focused on delivering tangible results across sectors, including infrastructure, education, and investment.
