Nigeria facing survival threat, Jega, Gambari, others warn in grim assessment
A coalition of ten prominent Nigerian leaders, including former INEC chairman Prof. Attahiru Jega and former presidential Chief of Staff Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, have issued a stark warning about the country’s future, stating that Nigeria is currently navigating a “dangerous crossroads.”
In a joint press release titled “Statement on the State of the Nation” dated June 8, 2026, the elder statesmen and professionals raised alarms over a convergence of national crises. They pointed to escalating insecurity, rampant electoral manipulation, and the systematic weakening of democratic institutions as immediate threats to Nigeria’s survival.
Other notable signatories to the statement include Malam Kabiru Yusuf (Chairman of Media Trust Group), Dr. Husseini Abdu, Dr. Usman Bugaje, Prof. Jibrin Ibrahim and Abubakar Balarabe Mahmoud (SAN).
The collapse of separation of powers
The group expressed deep concern over the erosion of the constitutional principle of separation of powers, alleging that the executive arm of government has effectively subordinated other branches of power.
“Our assessment of the state of the nation reveals that Nigeria stands at a dangerous crossroads… 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 statement read.
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According to the leaders, this erosion of institutional independence has triggered a domino effect, fueling public distrust, political exclusion, institutional impunity, and widespread insecurity across the Federation.
The Sahelian factor in Nigeria’s security crisis
In analyzing the nation’s security challenges, the signatories linked Nigeria’s internal battles directly to the worsening geopolitical instability in the Sahel region. They cited the rise of terrorism, rampant arms trafficking, recent unconstitutional changes of government, and porous borders in neighboring Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger as compounding factors.
“The crisis in Nigeria cannot be separated from the broader instability engulfing the Sahel region,” the group noted.
To mitigate this external threat, the coalition urged the FEDERAL GOVERNMEnt to immediately appoint a special envoy for the Sahel. This envoy would be tasked with rebuilding diplomatic trust between the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).
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Looking ahead to the next political cycle, the statement cast serious doubts on the readiness of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), citing “clear and consistent indications of the lack of neutrality and competence” within the electoral umpire.
To safeguard the democratic process ahead of the 2027 general elections, the leaders made a passionate rally call to the public and institutional watchdogs, urging civic groups the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to mobilize and engage INEC directly to ensure the 2027 polls are free, fair, and credible.
They asked the judiciary to strengthen internal accountability mechanisms immediately to restore dwindling public confidence in the justice system.
The group concluded that avoiding a total national crisis requires immediate, collective action from all sectors of Nigerian society before the damage to the republic becomes irreversible.
