Captain Luqman Gidado, a security expert and public affairs analyst, has weighed in on some of Nigeria’s most pressing governance debates, from the succession at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to accountability in Rivers State and the boundaries of free speech under President Bola Tinubu. Speaking on Adamimogo’s Inside Scoop current affairs programme, Gidado stressed the importance of integrity, impartiality, and accountability in sustaining Nigeria’s fragile democracy.
On the question of who should succeed Professor Mahmood Yakubu as INEC Chairman, Gidado argued that the country needs a candidate with independence and a “large heart,” but he noted that integrity is a contested concept in Nigeria.
“What people see as having integrity differs,” he explained. “For some, it is about party loyalty, for others, tribal affiliation or social identity. If we try to satisfy every perspective, we will get nowhere.” Still, he maintained that the next INEC boss must be non-partisan, transparent, and strong enough to hold the middle ground in a polarized nation.
Assessing Yakubu’s own tenure, which winds down in November, Capt. Gidado was cautiously positive. He highlighted Yakubu’s introduction of technology into the electoral process, from digital voter registration to electronic systems as a significant step forward. While acknowledging shortcomings and flaws, he insisted that “no system is perfect” and credited Yakubu with laying a foundation for improvement.
Turning to Rivers State, Gidado Luqman addressed the calls for Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, the former sole administrator during the six-month emergency rule, to give a public account of his stewardship. He stressed the constitutional complexities, pointing out that Ibas was not an elected official but an appointee of the presidency. “If you are holding a public office, you must be accountable,” he said.
“But since Ibas had no mandate from the people, it is the president, the authority who appointed him, that must instruct him to render that account.”
Still, Gidado acknowledged that Rivers experienced relative political stability during Ibas’s stewardship, which eased the reinstatement of Governor Siminalayi Fubara. Looking ahead, he urged stakeholders to “bury their hatchets” and focus on delivering the dividends of democracy rather than personal grievances.
The conversation also veered into the sensitive terrain of free expression. Responding to comments by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike that President Tinubu deserves credit for tolerating harsh criticism, such as activist Omoyele Sowore’s branding of the president as a “criminal,” Gidado struck a balanced note.
He affirmed that criticism is healthy in a democracy but must be exercised with civility. “We should focus on facts, not emotions,” he said, warning against rhetoric that could inflame society. In his words, “we are Nigerians, while it is allowed to criticize our leaders, we should do it with utmost patriotism to move the country forward.”
He also drew attention to Nigeria’s legal framework, noting that while the 1999 Constitution protects free expression, the Cybercrime Prohibition and Prevention Act criminalizes offensive or false messages intended to provoke hatred. With Sowore’s case already in court, Captain Gidado predicted “litigations here and there” rather than any physical showdown between the activist and the state.
For Gidado, Nigeria’s democratic survival hinges not on personalities, but on strengthening institutions, respecting the law, and ensuring leaders remain answerable to the people.
