Former Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani, has stated that no Nigerian politician, apart from former President Goodluck Jonathan, has ever implemented electoral reforms that led to their own political defeat.
Sani made these remarks on Thursday in Abuja during the inaugural Roundtable of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), which was centered on “The Role of the Judiciary in Nigeria’s Democratic Sustainability.”
In his speech as a discussant, Sani highlighted the lack of integrity among politicians and criticized the over-reliance on the judiciary in a flawed political system. He questioned why the judiciary is expected to be the savior of democracy when other institutions, such as political parties, INEC, the Presidency, and the National Assembly, should also be fulfilling that role.
Drawing from his dual experience as both a civil society activist and a politician, Sani observed, “In activism, we see clear distinctions between right and wrong. However, politicians operate differently. I am yet to see an electoral reform in Nigeria that politicians cannot manipulate.”
He further questioned why institutions like political parties and INEC are not regarded as the last hope for the common man, leaving that expectation solely on the judiciary.
Sani praised former President Jonathan for his exceptional approach to electoral reforms, noting, “No other president has introduced reforms that could result in their own defeat, except Jonathan. He appointed an INEC Chairman he had never met and introduced a data capturing machine that ultimately contributed to his own electoral loss.”
Sani’s remarks emphasize the ongoing challenges in Nigeria’s democratic institutions and the critical need for integrity and meaningful reform within the political landscape.
