Nigerian politicians have one thing in common: no permanent enemies, only permanent interests. Today’s enemy is tomorrow’s ally, and today’s ally is tomorrow’s scapegoat. As the elders say, when the drum changes rhythm, the dancer must change steps.
Yesterday in Abuja, I saw a number of retired politicians like Rotimi Amaechi (aka Baba Comedian), Peter Gregory Obi (aka China Container), and Nasir El-Rufai (aka “If I’m not there, it is not good”).
They are all out protesting the same system that once brought them to power.
Typical Nigerian politicians—whenever they are outside the ruling government, they suddenly become saints and align with the masses. They now claim to see clearly without wearing glasses. When they were inside, they were blind; when they came outside, they suddenly discovered vision. As the Yoruba will say, the eye that refuses to see when it is open will see when it is closed. Their conscience only wakes up when power leaves their hands. When they were sharing the national cake, they never complained about the bakery.
A leopard does not change its spots; it only changes location.
In almost every democracy in the world, opposition politicians no longer trust the election process.
No country is left out, because hypocrisy has become globalized.
In America—the father of democracy—Donald Trump and most Republicans no longer believe the U.S. election process is free and fair.
In Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro and his allies repeatedly alleged fraud and refused to commit to respecting the 2022 election results. It became a national debate that “Brazilian elections are fraudulent.”
In Canada, the People’s Party and many conservatives believe Canadian elections are fraudulent.
In Mexico, opposition parties alleged irregularities and even lost faith in all electoral institutions.
In Chile, right-leaning actors claimed the process was unfairly skewed despite transparent results. They refused to accept defeat, because pride is heavier than truth.
In Germany, the story is the same. Elements of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party and allied protesters challenged election legitimacy and claimed establishment bias.
In Italy, the Five Star Movement and other parties at times disputed local and national results, alleging irregularities and media unfairness.
In France, some far-right groups questioned election fairness and ballot counting when their candidates lost.
In Spain, the Vox party and some regional separatist movements claimed the electoral system favored mainstream parties. They do not believe elections are free and fair.
In Hungary, it is even worse. Opposition parties alleged that elections under Viktor Orbán’s government are structurally unfair due to media control and disputed result legitimacy.
In the Netherlands, far-right figures and supporters of Geert Wilders accused the system of bias and questioned result legitimacy, especially in tightly contested races.
In Poland, the ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party raised doubts about electoral fairness, alleging media and judicial bias.
In the UK, Labour and Conservative supporters accused each other of unfair practices during elections, alleging bias and rigging.
In Japan, some opposition politicians questioned the fairness of electoral district boundaries and media influence in elections favoring the long-dominant Liberal Democratic Party.
In South Korea, opposition parties have always alleged bias in their electoral system.
In Taiwan, pro-China political actors and online movements disputed election credibility as part of broader geopolitical arguments.
In India, the world’s biggest democracy, major opposition parties repeatedly alleged partisan behavior by the Election Commission and unfair advantages for the ruling party.
In Australia, minor parties and some conservative commentators claimed unaddressed irregularities in federal election processes.
In New Zealand, fringe political groups rejected election outcomes, claiming media and bureaucratic bias.
In Norway, certain populist and far-right activists questioned the fairness of their electoral process.
In Finland, right-wing activists alleged systemic rigging in favor of mainstream parties in close elections.
In Portugal, certain political factions disputed results, claiming procedural bias despite independent oversight.
In Belgium, Flemish nationalist supporters questioned federal election results as favoring Francophone parties.
These are not isolated cases; this is now a common feature in democracies globally. When a man loses the fight, he blames the referee. When a hunter misses the antelope, he blames the gunpowder.
Losers are now finding it difficult to concede defeat. That is why Obi and Atiku came out joint first in the 2023 elections—according to their followers.
The only free and fair election globally today is the election won by the opposition.
Obi’s 6 million votes are legitimate.
Atiku’s 6 million votes are legitimate.
But Tinubu’s 8 million votes are fraudulent.
Oti’s votes are legitimate.
But Sanwo-Olu’s votes are fraudulent.
Tambuwal’s senatorial votes are legitimate.
But Oshiomhole’s senatorial votes are fraudulent.
INEC cannot conduct credible elections.
But INEC gave Obi credible 6 million votes.
INEC gave Atiku credible 6 million votes.
INEC gave LP, PDP of Atiku and Obi over 35 credible senatorial seats.
These sore losers turn logic upside down to soothe what they believe. As the elders say, when the mouth is crooked, the truth sounds crooked.
Mogaji Wole Arisekola, Publisher of The Street Journal Newspaper, writes from Ibadan.
