Nigeria’s Electoral Trust Deficit Rooted In History -Prof Kalu
A constitutional lawyer, Prof. Kalu SAN has traced Nigeria’s electoral trust deficit to decades of manipulation, weak institutions, and the moral decay of political actors since independence, arguing that the crisis of credibility in Nigerian elections is not new—but inherited.
Speaking during a high-level discussion on “Electoral Integrity and Trust Deficit: What Nigerians Expect in 2027”, during the 2025 edition of the All Nigerian Conference of Editors (ANEC), he said that the history of elections in Nigeria mirrors the country’s constitutional journey, from colonial experiments to modern-day democratic struggles.
Prof. Kalu recalled that the 1959 elections were shaped by ethnic politics and expedient alliances, while the controversial 1964 and 1965 elections destroyed confidence in the electoral process and paved the way for military intervention.
“The fall of the First Republic was not simply about political rivalry,” he said, “it was the moment Nigerians lost faith that votes could change leadership.”
He further noted that subsequent elections—especially those of 1983, 1993, and 2007—were marred by fraud and manipulation, showing that every generation inherits both the laws and the flaws of its predecessors.
Prof. Kalu who pointed to the 1999 return to democracy as a chance to reset the system, lamented that “the moral bankruptcy of politicians continues to undermine the legal framework.”
The scholar called for a national conversation on integrity in leadership and civic responsibility, warning that “technology alone cannot save a system that lacks moral direction.”
“Our problem is not the ballot box—it is the conscience of those who use it,” he said.
