By Lengnan Tobias
Former Nigerian Ambassador to Chad, Abdullahi Omaki, says elections in Nigeria are still driven more by ethnicity, religion and regional identity than by issues of development and national stability.
Omaki said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja.
According to him, many voters focus more on a candidate’s background than on policies, competence or national progress.
“People don’t pay attention to developmental issues.
“They focus on who is coming to lead, where they come from, and what religion they practice,” he said.
Omaki, who is also the founder of the Abdullahi Omaki Community Peace Initiative Network, said the trend had weakened national cohesion and slowed national development.
He added that elections in Nigeria were often portrayed as conflict situations rather than democratic contests.
“The way we talk about elections makes it sound like the country is at war.
“That won’t change until we prioritise service to the nation over ethnic or religious identity,” he said.
Speaking on concerns over rising political tension ahead of the 2027 general elections, Omaki said he did not believe the polls would be more volatile than previous elections.
“Every election feels that way. In the end, however, we’ve always managed a peaceful transition, even if the fears beforehand are exaggerated,” he said. (NAN)
Edited by Mark Longyen
