As concerns mount ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections, comparisons with neighbouring West African democracies, particularly Ghana and Senegal, are raising uncomfortable questions about the country’s electoral credibility.
On election day in Ghana in December 2024, voting proceeded calmly. Polling officials worked efficiently, voters queued peacefully, and results were transmitted with minimal controversy. The process once again reinforced Ghana’s reputation as one of Africa’s most stable democracies.
Among the observers was Mahmood Yakubu, then chairman of Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), who publicly praised the conduct of the poll, describing both the process and outcome as commendable.
Ghanaian academics and analysts attribute the country’s success to disciplined electoral management, political maturity and public trust in institutions. Elections are held every four years on December 7, candidates face relatively low participation costs, vote-buying is socially discouraged, and losing candidates routinely concede defeat.
Senegal’s 2024 presidential election offers a similar contrast. Despite political tension ahead of the vote, the election that brought Bassirou Diomaye Faye to power was widely described by observers as transparent and credible. The defeated ruling coalition candidate conceded peacefully, reinforcing confidence in the process.
For many Nigerians, the contrast is stark.
Nigeria’s 2023 general election, conducted at a cost of N313.4 billion, was plagued by logistical failures, delayed result uploads, malfunctioning technology and widespread allegations of manipulation. INEC’s introduction of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the Result Viewing Portal (IReV) was meant to enhance transparency, but system failures at critical moments eroded public trust.
Three years later, the fallout persists. Election outcomes are frequently decided in court, and confidence in the electoral process continues to decline.
The impact is visible in voter turnout. Ghana recorded 69.25 per cent turnout in 2016 and 63.97 per cent in 2024, while Senegal posted 61.3 per cent turnout in 2024. Nigeria, by contrast, recorded 34.75 per cent turnout in 2019 and an even lower 26.71 per cent in 2023, one of the lowest in its democratic history.
Analysts argue that Nigeria’s challenges go beyond scale or funding. They point instead to weak enforcement of electoral laws, politicisation of institutions and a political culture that treats elections as a zero-sum contest.
Governance experts warn that unless reforms strengthen INEC’s independence, improve accountability among security agencies and restore public trust, voter apathy could deepen ahead of 2027.
“When elections consistently end up in court, citizens begin to question whether their votes truly count,” said Clement Nwankwo of the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre. “That erosion of trust has long-term consequences.”
As Nigeria looks toward 2027, the experiences of Ghana and Senegal underline a simple lesson: credible elections depend less on technology or spending, and more on institutions, discipline and political will.
