LAURETTA ONOCHIE

Atiku’s $1.2m Washington Lobbying Deal and INEC’s Sudden Retreat on Voter Revalidation: Coincidence or Calculated Pressure? In the murky corridors of Nigerian power, where democracy is too often treated as a decorative prop for one-party dominance, a quiet $1.2 million contract signed in Washington has just exposed the raw nerves of the APC-led Federal Government and its electoral enforcer, INEC. The contract with the influential U.S. lobbying firm Von Batten-Montague-York was signed on March 9 and 10, 2026, but it was only made public the moment INEC announced its infamous voter revalidation exercise.  Timing is everything — and like a pack of cards, the grand plan began collapsing. Barely weeks after the deal to counter “narratives linked to the Nigerian government” surfaced amid the revalidation controversy, INEC abruptly suspended its controversial nationwide voter revalidation exercise. What was billed as a routine register cleanup morphed overnight into a panicked retreat. Co...

The unfolding political developments in Nigeria demand the urgent attention of all patriots, democrats, civil society actors, and lovers of constitutional governance.  What we are witnessing is no longer an ordinary contest among political parties. It is a dangerous and deliberate drift toward the construction of a one-party state, where dissent is punished, opposition voices are silenced, and democratic institutions are manipulated to serve partisan interests. The sustained weakening of major opposition parties, the atmosphere of intimidation surrounding elected officials, and the increasing use of state institutions as instruments of political coercion have combined to create a grave threat to Nigeria’s democratic future. Of particular concern is the failed attempt to destabilise the African Democratic Congress (ADC), the only major opposition platform that continues to inspire hope among millions of Nigerians. As citizens, legislators, governors, former governors, youth groups, ...

Nigeria is often described as a paradox. We are a nation of extraordinary human capital—energetic, inventive, resilient—yet our economic outcomes fall persistently short of our potential. Growth remains shallow, productivity weak, firms struggle to scale, and prosperity does not spread widely enough. Today, I want to advance a clear and uncomfortable proposition: Nigeria’s growth problem is not primarily a shortage of talent, capital, or ideas. It is a problem of where our best talent goes—and why. This is not a moral argument about individuals. It is a political-economy argument about incentives. 1. The Core Insight: Talent Follows Returns Across societies and across history, highly capable people choose occupations that offer the highest returns to ability, especially where small differences in skill translate into large rewards. Economists describe this as increasing returns to talent.  When those returns are highest in entrepreneurship, innovation, and production, economies gro...

Nigeria’s democracy has always been a work in progress, strengthened not by perfection but by the willingness of leaders to respect the principles that sustain a democratic nation. One such principle is the freedom of political choice — the right of citizens and politicians alike to belong to any political party without fear, intimidation, or coercion. Under the leadership of Pres. Muhammadu Buhari, Nigeria witnessed a governing style that, despite its criticisms, broadly respected the existence and operation of opposition parties. Governors, legislators, and political actors across party lines exercised their constitutional rights to associate freely.  It was not unusual to see governors from opposition parties accompany the president on official trips abroad or participate in national engagements without suspicion or political hostility. Indeed, during his campaigns, Pres. Buhari repeatedly urged Nigerians to vote for candidates of their choices, regardless of religion, ethnicity...

At a time when Nigeria’s democratic space appears to be narrowing under the weight of political intimidation and pressure, a group of courageous legislators have chosen the path of principle over convenience.  In a political climate where governors, lawmakers, and public officials are reportedly being coerced into joining the ruling party, the decision by nine senators to stand firm on the side of democratic plurality deserves both recognition and applause. Senators Binos Dauda Yaroe, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, Enyinnaya Abaribe, Ireti Kingibe, Victor Umeh, Tony Nwoye, Mohammed Onawo, Austin Akobundu, and Peter Jiya made a bold and patriotic decision to join the opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC). Their action was not driven by the lure of power, patronage, or personal advantage. Rather, it was a deliberate and courageous step taken in defence of Nigeria’s democracy. Their decision comes at a moment when many Nigerians fear that the country is being nudged—quietly but steadil...

An Open Letter to Member States of the United Nations on the Importance of Credible Diplomatic Representation. Your Excellencies, I write to you as a concerned Nigerian and as someone who believes deeply in the integrity of multilateral institutions, particularly the United Nations, whose credibility rests heavily on the character and reputation of those who represent their nations within its chambers. Recent reports indicate that Nigeria’s President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has appointed Nigerian businessman and politician Jimoh Ibrahim as Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations. The position of Permanent Representative is one of the most sensitive diplomatic roles in international relations. The occupant of that office participates in negotiations on global peace, economic cooperation, international law, and human rights. Such a role demands not only competence but unimpeachable credibility. Unfortunately, Mr. Ibrahim’s public record in Nigeria has long been marked by ser...