Illegitimacy of Electoral Mandates Fuels Nigeria's Insecurity

Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, the former chairman of the National Human Rights Commission, asserted that the illegitimacy of electoral mandates is the biggest source of insecurity in Nigeria.

He made this statement during a guest interview on Arise Television's prime-time segment on Thursday. Odinkalu explained that when people realize their votes do not count, it leads to violence, as they perceive the judiciary as compromised.

He emphasized that discussions about security cannot ignore the complex elements surrounding electoral legitimacy. Odinkalu criticized the idea of establishing state police without addressing the root causes of insecurity, which he identifies as the illegitimacy of electoral mandates.

He warned that unless these issues are diagnosed and managed properly, new problems will arise, leading to further societal unrest.