How Money Politics Is Killing Nigeria's Democracy Softly

Photo: The Punch

When Your Pocket Determines Your Political Future

Let's talk about something that every Nigerian with sense already knows but nobody wants to say out loud — politics in this country has become a rich man's sport. You either have the money to play or you siddon look. And that, my people, is exactly why Ibrahim Balarabe-Musa, the respected political voice and chairman of the Peoples Democratic Movement, is raising serious alarm bells about the state of our democracy.

Balarabe-Musa recently came out to warn Nigerians that the monetisation of our electoral process is not just a minor problem — it is actively destroying the foundation of what democracy is supposed to be. His message is simple but cuts deep: when elective office becomes a product you buy rather than a mandate the people give you, then we are no longer practising democracy. We are practising something else entirely — and it doesn't have a pretty name.

The 'Owo' Game: How Money Silences the Masses

Picture this scenario that many of us have witnessed with our two korokoro eyes. A brilliant young lawyer, a sharp-minded teacher, or a community health worker who genuinely wants to serve their constituency decides to run for local government or state assembly. They have the vision, the competence, the passion — everything except the millions of naira needed to purchase forms, fund campaigns, settle party delegates, and do the famous 'Ghana must go' sharing that has become standard practice at party primaries.

Meanwhile, a contractor who has been collecting government funds and delivering nothing, a man whose only qualification is that he knows how to spray money at rallies, emerges as the candidate because he can afford to 'settle' everyone in the room. Na so the cycle continues. The competent people stay at home. The moneybags go to Abuja or the state house. And the rest of us suffer the consequences for four years.

This is the reality Balarabe-Musa is pointing at, and e no be small thing. When money becomes the primary qualification for seeking office, governance automatically suffers because those who buy power are usually focused on recouping their investment — not on serving you and me.

The Numbers Don't Lie — This Thing Is Expensive

Do you know how much it costs to run for office in Nigeria today? E go shock you. Expression of interest and nomination forms alone for some positions run into millions of naira. The APC presidential nomination form in the 2022 cycle was ₦100 million. House of Representatives aspirants were paying between ₦2 million and ₦10 million just to collect forms — before spending a single kobo on campaigns. Senate aspirants? Even more.

Now ask yourself this honest question: how many ordinary Nigerians — teachers, nurses, engineers, community leaders — can raise that kind of money? The answer is not many. And that is exactly the point. The system has been structured, whether deliberately or by neglect, to exclude the everyday Nigerian from participating meaningfully in governance. Your vote they want, but your ambition? Ah, that one, bring money first.

The Ripple Effect: Why We Keep Getting Bad Governance

Here is what people don't always connect — the reason we keep complaining about bad leadership and recycled politicians is directly linked to this money problem. When only wealthy individuals or those backed by powerful godfathers can access power, the pool of potential leaders shrinks dramatically. We are literally cutting ourselves off from the best brains, the most competent hands, and the most sincere hearts because they cannot afford to play the game.

Think about it. How many times have you looked at someone in your community — a local NGO leader, a school principal, a passionate activist — and thought, 'This person would be an amazing representative'? But that person doesn't have a godfather. They don't have oil bloc money. They can't fund a primary. So they remain outside, and someone who knows how to spend money but not how to govern gets the seat instead.

The consequences are all around us: infrastructure that collapses before it's completed, education budgets that disappear into thin air, hospitals without drugs, roads that become rivers during rainy season. These are not accidents — they are the fruits of a system that prioritises financial muscle over competence and integrity.

What Can Actually Be Done? E Get Options O

The conversation cannot just end at identifying the problem. We need to be talking solutions, and there are legitimate ones on the table:

• Campaign finance reform: The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) needs real enforcement power to cap campaign spending and make parties accountable for what their candidates spend during primaries and general elections.
• Reduction of nomination form fees: Political parties must be compelled by law to make their forms accessible. There is no democratic justification for a ₦100 million presidential form. None.
• Public financing of elections: Several countries fund credible candidates from public funds to level the playing field. Nigeria needs a serious conversation about this model.
• Voter education and resistance: We, the ordinary Nigerians, also have a role. When we collect ₦500 and vote based on that alone, we are participating in our own oppression. Communities need to begin holding each other accountable.
• Civil society pressure: Organisations, journalists, and citizens must continue to name and shame electoral corruption, document it, and push for consequences.

Your Voice Matters — Even When They Try to Buy It

The beautiful thing about democracy — even the imperfect one we have — is that it ultimately rests in the hands of the people. Yes, the system is broken and money politics is real. But we are not helpless. Every conversation like this one, every Nigerian who refuses to stay silent, every community that begins to demand better — that is democracy fighting back.

Balarabe-Musa's warning is not just the opinion of one elder statesman. It is a reflection of what millions of Nigerians experience every election cycle. The question is: are we going to keep accepting it, or are we going to start demanding something better?

We want to hear from you. Have you ever witnessed money politics firsthand in your community? Maybe you tried to run for office and couldn't afford it. Maybe you watched a qualified person lose to a moneybag. Drop your experience in the comments — because these stories need to be told. Nigeria needs to hear them.