Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
A coalition of prominent Nigerians, including former Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman Prof. Attahiru Jega and former Chief of Staff to the President Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, has warned that Nigeria is standing at a "dangerous crossroads" where rising insecurity, electoral manipulation, and the weakening of democratic institutions are converging into a crisis threatening the nation’s survival. In a strongly-worded statement titled "Statement on the State of the Nation" dated June 8, 2026, the group called for urgent and far-reaching reforms to avert a potential national collapse.
The signatories, which also include Senior Advocate of Nigeria Abubakar Balarabe Mahmoud, Chairman of Media Trust Group Malam Kabiru Yusuf, Dr. Husseini Abdu, Dr. Usman Bugaje, and Prof. Jibrin Ibrahim, painted a grim picture of a democracy under severe strain. The 11-member coalition, described as a group of "concerned Nigerians," accused the executive branch of government of placing the legislature under its "near-total control" and asserted that the judiciary has lost both its independence and its integrity. "Our assessment of the state of the nation reveals that Nigeria stands at a dangerous crossroads where rising insecurity, an alarming level of electoral manipulation by government, and the weakening of democratic institutions are converging into a national crisis that threatens the country’s survival," the statement read.
The coalition, which includes former Chief of Staff to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari; former INEC Chairman Attahiru Jega; and other respected figures, argued that the foundational constitutional principle of separation of powers is under unprecedented assault. "The legislative branch has been placed under near-total control of the executive branch. The judiciary appears to have lost both its independence and its integrity," the group asserted in a joint statement released on Monday. The coalition highlighted that the erosion of institutional independence has fueled public distrust to its highest level, creating a crisis of political exclusion and impunity that is pushing violent extremism, organized crime, and communal conflict to a tipping point. They further warned that critical state institutions have been "compromised, weakened, and subordinated to the interests of the executive arm of government," and that there are currently "no checks on the powers of the executive, who now govern as they please without accountability or respect for the people’s concerns."
The group also linked Nigeria’s internal insecurity to the broader crisis engulfing the Sahel region. Citing the spread of terrorism, arms trafficking, porous borders, and unconstitutional changes of government in neighboring countries such as Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, the coalition noted that the collapse of regional cooperation and democratic governance in parts of the Sahel is emboldening armed groups and undermining civilian protection across West Africa. "The crisis in Nigeria cannot be separated from the broader instability engulfing the Sahel region," the statement said.
To address the multifaceted emergency, the coalition issued a series of urgent recommendations. They urged the Federal Government to immediately appoint a high-level Special Envoy for the Sahel to rebuild trust and rapprochement between the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the breakaway Alliance of Sahel States (AES), arguing that it is a matter of national interest. Domestically, the group called for a recommitment to judicial independence and institutional reforms to restore public confidence. The coalition specifically demanded that President Bola Tinubu and the government engage with bodies such as the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), trade unions, and civil society to ensure the neutrality of the judiciary is restored ahead of the 2027 general elections. The signatories also called on the National Judicial Council to establish a framework for holding judges accountable for decisions taken in the context of electoral processes. Furthermore, the coalition expressed deep concern over the electoral process, stating there were "clear and consistent indications of the lack of neutrality and competence of INEC," and urged civic groups to engage the commission to ensure the 2027 elections are free, fair, and credible.
The coalition also addressed broader civic responsibilities, urging traditional rulers and religious leaders to deploy their moral authority to promote peaceful coexistence. They called on civil society organizations to intensify public advocacy for accountability, while encouraging citizens to be "bold and courageous" in protecting civic rights and resisting what the group described as a "shrinking civic space."
As of the time of this report, the Presidency has not issued an official response to the coalition’s statement. The warning from these elder statesmen comes amid heightened tension in the country following a series of military coups in the Sahel region and a rise in security challenges, including the recent major military operation in Nigeria’s northeast. The group concluded its statement with a stern admonition to the government to treat the warning as a clear signal that national patience and stability are wearing thin.
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