Former Nigerian ambassador to Chad, Abdullahi Omaki, says elections in Nigeria are still driven more by ethnicity, religion, and regional identity than by development and national stability considerations.

He made this known in an interview in Abuja on Thursday.

According to him, voters often focus on a candidate’s background rather than policy or progress.

“People don’t pay attention to developmental issues. They focus on who is coming to lead, where they come from, and what religion they practise,” he said.

Mr Omaki, who is also the founder of the Abdullahi Omaki Community Peace Initiative Network, said the trend had weakened national cohesion and done little to advance development.

He noted that elections in Nigeria were often framed as conflict rather than competition.

“The way we talk about elections makes it sound like the country is at war. That won’t change until we prioritise service to the nation over ethnic or religious identity,” he said.

On concerns about rising tension ahead of the 2027 polls, Mr Omaki said he did not think that it would be more dangerous than past elections.

“Every election feels that way. In the end, however, we’ve always managed a peaceful transition, even if the fears beforehand are exaggerated,” the ex-envoy added.

(NAN)