Oriontimes News Desk August 23, 2026
Former Presidential Aspirant, Chief CBN Onwuasoanya Ezendigbo, has expressed concern over the rising wave of political violence, misinformation, and the recruitment of party loyalists to attack opponents on social media, warning that such practices threaten the nation's democratic foundation.
Speaking with journalists, Ezendigbo lamented what he described as the increasing commercialization of politics, where individuals pursue political activities solely for financial gain rather than service to the people.
According to him, many youths are drawn into politics without meaningful employment, skills, or educational opportunities, a situation he said often degenerates into electoral violence and criminal activities.
"People focus on making money from politics while ignoring other legitimate means of earning a living. In that quest, many have no handiwork or educational background, and this often morphs into electoral violence where thugs attack and even kill people in the name of politics," he said.
The former presidential aspirant also criticized the lack of effective implementation of laws aimed at protecting citizens from exploitation and ensuring accountability in governance.
Ezendigbo particularly condemned the growing trend of politicians recruiting unprofessional individuals to spread false information and attack perceived opponents online.
"Recruiting unprofessional reporters to purvey fake news is a wrong tactic for politicians. There are people empowered by law to serve as watchdogs in society. But what do we call a political system where people are recruited to destroy campaign banners and spend their time on social media spreading falsehoods? That is not democracy," he stated.
He further decried the loss of lives during election periods, stressing that victims of political violence could have become future engineers, doctors, scientists, and other professionals who would have contributed positively to national development.
"We should reflect on the crimes committed during elections. The people killed may have been future engineers, scientists, or doctors. Why should citizens be afraid to move freely on the streets simply because they want to exercise their democratic right to vote?" he queried.
Ezendigbo painted a grim picture of an environment where citizens fear expressing their opinions due to threats and intimidation.
"People cannot complain. You speak and you die. You express your opinion and you die. You ask questions and you die. You vote and you die. You don't vote and you die. You stay at home and they still kill you," he lamented.
Calling for a more issue-based political culture, Ezendigbo urged political actors to embrace healthy debates, respect the role of journalists, and allow democratic institutions to function independently.
"Instead of creating problems for financial gain, politicians should allow debates and permit journalists to do their work. Manipulating every process in the name of politics is damaging to the country. Nigeria deserves better leadership and a political culture built on truth, accountability, and respect for human life," he added.
He called on stakeholders across party lines to work towards strengthening democratic values and ensuring that elections are conducted peacefully without intimidation, violence, or the spread of misinformation.
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