Too Big to Rig

The greatest threat to Nigeria is not government corruption, nor is it the bullish tactics it employs to suppress the opposition, as we saw in Lagos earlier this month when the African Democratic Congress (ADC) was attacked and denied access to its venue . The real threat is not even the drastic and draconian measures taken in the name of fixing the country as seen in Rivers State.

No, none of these poses as much danger to the stability of this nation as the false narrative that our democracy will be saved by the right candidate, or by reforms in INEC, or even by a softening of the APC’s rugged “Grab it, snatch it, and run with it” approach.

Instead of selling you a pacifying tale of optimism, I offer a sobering reality—one I suspect you, the reader, already know too well: no one is coming to save us. The ruling party has shown it is more interested in victory and the centralization of power than in building a government that works for its people. This government will not reform INEC—why would it reform the very structure that guarantees its hold on power? Let us be honest: the next election will not be entirely free, nor will it be entirely fair.

Yet, I firmly believe the redemption of this country rests in the hands of Nigerians themselves. Let me introduce into our vocabulary a simple but powerful phrase: Too Big to Rig. When the masses of our people, armed with their PVCs and their determination, come out—not just to cast their votes but to defend them, to protect their communities, their voices, and their will—then we cannot be stopped.

We must remember what we have already achieved as a people. Within three generations, we defeated the British empire and won independence. We fought the military dictatorship and reclaimed democracy. We endured a civil war, kept this country united, and emerged on the other side. We are no featherweights. We have paid our dues in blood, sweat, and toil.

We must break free from the lie that our votes do not matter, or that our will can be suppressed. Expect a flurry of propaganda and intimidation, as we saw during the last election, due to fearmongering and threats of violence.

But we must also remember this: in certain polling units, it was not the voters who ran. It was the hired thugs who were beaten back by communities that stood together, refusing to yield.

The spirit of courage has always been among us. And it is needed now more than ever, because our worst fears are already upon us: hunger, unemployment, mass suffering and for many deaths from insecurity and unequipped hospitals.

The only way out is in. Into the struggle, into the jungle of our democracy. We must fight—not with violence, but with unity, courage, and determination to make our votes Too Big to Rig.The greatest threat to Nigeria is not the APC government, nor is it the bullish tactics it employs to suppress the opposition, as we saw in Lagos earlier this month when the African Democratic Congress (ADC) was attacked and denied access to its venue . The real threat is not even the drastic and draconian measures taken in the name of “fixing” the country as seen in Rivers State.

No, none of these poses as much danger to the stability of this nation as the false narrative that our democracy will be saved by the right candidate, or by reforms in INEC, or even by a softening of the APC’s rugged “Grab it, snatch it, and run with it” approach.

Instead of selling you a pacifying tale of optimism, I offer a sobering reality—one I suspect you, the reader, already know too well: no one is coming to save us. The ruling party has shown it is more interested in victory and the centralization of power than in building a government that works for its people. This government will not reform INEC—why would it reform the very structure that guarantees its hold on power? Let us be honest: the next election will not be entirely free, nor will it be entirely fair.

Yet, I firmly believe the redemption of this country rests in the hands of Nigerians themselves. Let me introduce into our vocabulary a simple but powerful phrase: Too Big to Rig. When the masses of our people, armed with their PVCs and their determination, come out—not just to cast their votes but to defend them, to protect their communities, their voices, and their will—then we cannot be stopped.

We must remember what we have already achieved as a people. Within three generations, we defeated the British empire and won independence. We fought the military dictatorship and reclaimed democracy. We endured a civil war, kept this country united, and emerged on the other side. We are no featherweights. We have paid our dues in blood, sweat, and toil.

We must break free from the lie that our votes do not matter, or that our will can be suppressed. Expect a flurry of propaganda and intimidation, as we saw during the last election, due to fearmongering and threats of violence.

But we must also remember this: in certain polling units, it was not the voters who ran. It was the hired thugs who were beaten back by communities that stood together, refusing to yield.

The spirit of courage has always been among us. And it is needed now more than ever, because our worst fears are already upon us: hunger, unemployment, mass suffering and for many deaths from insecurity and unequipped hospitals.

The only way out is in. Into the struggle, into the jungle of our democracy. We must fight—not with violence, but with unity, courage, and determination to make our votes Too Big to Rig.