Deji Adeleke Calls for Electoral Reform, Says Nigeria's Democracy Depends on Credible Elections

Deji Adeleke Calls for Electoral Reform, Says Nigeria's Democracy Depends on Credible Elections

Description: Billionaire businessman Deji Adeleke has called for urgent electoral reforms in Nigeria, warning that vote manipulation by election officials, security personnel, and other stakeholders threatens the nation's democracy.

Deji Adeleke Urges Nigerians to Protect Democracy Through Credible Elections

Prominent Nigerian businessman and President of Adeleke University, Dr. Deji Adeleke, has called on Nigerians to unite in safeguarding the country's democracy by ensuring free, fair, and credible elections.

Speaking during the 12th Undergraduate and 8th Postgraduate Convocation Ceremony at Adeleke University in Ede, Osun State, Adeleke stressed that credible elections cannot be achieved by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) alone. According to him, every stakeholder—including ad hoc election officials, security agencies, the judiciary, and citizens—must uphold integrity throughout the electoral process.

INEC Chairman Cannot Stop Election Rigging Alone – Adeleke

Adeleke argued that regardless of how competent or committed the INEC Chairman may be, it is practically impossible for one individual to monitor every polling unit across Nigeria during elections.

Using the upcoming Osun State governorship election as an example, he noted that the state has 3,763 polling units, making it impossible for the electoral commission's leadership to personally supervise each location.

He said the responsibility of conducting transparent elections largely falls on the thousands of officials deployed to polling units nationwide.

Allegations Against Election Officials and Security Personnel

Expressing concern over Nigeria's electoral process, Adeleke alleged that some National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members recruited as ad hoc election officials and certain security personnel compromise election integrity by accepting bribes to manipulate results.

According to him, vote buying and result manipulation continue to undermine public confidence in Nigeria's democratic system and have contributed to violence and loss of lives during elections.

He lamented that many young Nigerians have died in election-related violence, describing the situation as both unfortunate and avoidable.

Adeleke Warns of Global Consequences

The billionaire businessman warned that repeated cases of electoral malpractice damage Nigeria's international reputation.

He said Nigeria is blessed with talented and intelligent citizens, but recurring election controversies project a negative image before the global community.

Adeleke also expressed concern about judicial decisions that allegedly fail to uphold justice, warning that such actions weaken democratic institutions and public trust.

Despite the challenges, he maintained that Nigeria still has an opportunity to reform its electoral system.

> "It is never too late for Nigeria to begin again and build an electoral system founded on honesty, transparency, and accountability," he emphasized.

Adeleke University Records Major Academic Milestones

During the convocation ceremony, the Vice-Chancellor of Adeleke University, Prof. Solomon Adebola, highlighted the institution's continued growth since its establishment in 2011.

He revealed that the university admitted 1,554 students during the 2025/2026 academic session and has now received approval from the National Universities Commission (NUC) to commence Medicine (MBBS) and Pharmacy (Pharm.D) programmes beginning in the 2026/2027 academic session.

1,375 Students Graduate

The Vice-Chancellor announced that 1,375 students graduated across undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.

Outstanding graduates include:

Ejiofor Onyinyechukwu Sonia (Medical Laboratory Science) – CGPA 5.00

Kinosi Victor Oluwagbemiga (Economics) – CGPA 5.00

Olunlade Joshua Oluwafisayo – Best Master's Graduate (Mechanical Engineering) with 80.02 CWA

Ukenyi Chibunna Godspower – Best Ph.D Graduate (Religious Studies – New Testament) with 77.32 CWA

Prof. Adebola encouraged the graduating students to embrace the next phase of their lives with confidence, integrity, and a commitment to making meaningful contributions to society.

Why Adeleke's Message Matters

As Nigeria prepares for future elections, Deji Adeleke's remarks have renewed discussions about electoral credibility, accountability, and institutional reforms.

His message underscores a critical point: strengthening democracy requires collective responsibility from election officials, security agencies, political actors, the judiciary, and ordinary citizens. Transparent elections remain essential for national stability, economic growth, and public confidence in governance.

Conclusion

Deji Adeleke's call for electoral integrity serves as a reminder that the future of Nigeria's democracy depends on the actions of every stakeholder involved in the electoral process. With the country approaching another election cycle, demands for transparency, accountability, and peaceful participation are expected to remain at the forefront of national discourse.

>>>> What are your thoughts on Deji Adeleke's comments about Nigeria's electoral system? Should stronger reforms be introduced to improve election credibility? Share your opinion in the comments below, and follow MyInfoJet for more breaking political news, education updates, and in-depth analysis.

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