President Tinubu’s Golden Chance: Free the Ballot in 2027, Free Nigeria’s Future

By Dr. Michael O. Omoruyi

An Open Letter to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu

Mr. President,

The 2027 general elections are drawing near. Across Nigeria and the diaspora, memories of the 2023 elections remain raw, and public trust in the electoral system is deeply shaken. The credibility of the present INEC chairman is in tatters, and faith in his leadership to deliver free and fair elections has all but vanished.

You now stand at a crossroads. This is your golden chance—an opportunity to be remembered not as a politician who clung to power, but as a statesman who freed the ballot and gave Nigerians back their voice.

The Burden of History

Every leader’s legacy is defined not by rhetoric but by the choices they make when history knocks. Past leaders who championed electoral reforms earned the people’s respect and carved their names in history. Others who manipulated the ballot became cautionary tales.

Today, the torch is in your hands, Mr. President. The question is simple: Will you rise above partisan politics and choose legacy over temporary advantage?

The Case for Independence

A credible democracy cannot exist without an independent electoral body. Nigerians no longer believe the current INEC leadership can guarantee fairness. If you truly want to write your name in gold, you must:

• Guarantee INEC’s full autonomy by ensuring leadership changes that restore confidence.

• Advance electoral reforms that prioritize transparency in collation and result transmission.

• Empower civil society and observers to guard the process against manipulation.

Without these steps, 2027 risks becoming another cycle of disillusionment.

Beyond Power, Toward Legacy

Mr. President, your name will not be remembered for how firmly you held onto office. It will be remembered for whether you opened the path for the Nigerian people to freely and fairly choose their leaders.

A compromised 2027 election will deepen anger, polarize the nation, and stain your record. But a transparent, independent election will immortalize you as the President who restored dignity to the ballot and faith in democracy.

A Final Appeal

Sir, this is not about opposition or loyalty. It is about Nigeria. It is about posterity. It is about your name in history books yet to be written.

Choose wisely, Mr. President. Free the ballot in 2027, and you will not only free Nigeria’s future—you will secure your place in gold.

Respectfully,
Dr. Michael O. Omoruyi
Diaspora Affairs Advocate & Publisher, iNewsAfrica