A former National Legal Adviser of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mark Jacob, has faulted the conduct of the August 16, 2025, by-elections and re-run across 13 states, describing them as a setback in Nigeria?s democratic process.

Jacob, who spoke on Channels Television?s The Morning Brief on Monday, lamented that the country had returned to the ?old days? when elections were determined by the strength of those in government and their control of security agencies.

?We are back to the old days of the stronger person in government and control of government agencies winning the election, no matter what,? he said.

Jacob referenced an incident in Kaduna State, where a candidate and about 25 of her supporters were allegedly abducted during their strategy meeting.

?We saw a situation where the candidate and her key supporters, who were strategising, were taken away from the election or from participation until later in the day. And elections were being conducted without the participation of the candidate because agencies of government took them captive, and people are celebrating,? he said.

He further alleged that PDP candidates in other states were also deliberately targeted for arrest just before the elections.

According to him, such actions undermine the principles of democracy.

?The gains that INEC and Nigeria have made in the electoral process have all been whittled down. We have now gone back to the days when might is right.

?If you have political power and you have control of the agencies of government, you are bound to win elections. And that is not positive for the country. Nobody should be celebrating when we win elections by exhibiting power at the polls. It is not correct, and nobody should condone it.?

He also expressed disappointment in the role of the judiciary, alleging that the courts appeared to serve as ?a ruling party? in electoral matters.

?It is a terrible testimony to those of us in the legal profession to make the court a ruling party in the election,? he said.

On the implications of the elections, Jacob said Nigerians should not expect proper checks and balances from the legislature, since the independence of the arm had been weakened.

?The legislative houses that are supposed to checkmate the executive are now just an extension of the executive because the executive conducts the elections and insists on winning every seat that is up for grabs, and we are watching,? he added. (CHANNELS)

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