HOW TO CLEAN DIRTY POLITICS

By Olanrewaju Osho

“Politics is dirty!”

This statement has become the mindset, slogan, and confession of many Nigerians. Because of this belief, countless citizens have developed a deep dislike for politics and often declare that they will never have anything to do with it.

But the truth is that anything that is used or misused can become dirty. Our clothes become dirty after use. Our cars get dirty on the road. Our homes gather dust over time. Do we throw them away because they are dirty? Certainly not! We simply wash, clean, and restore them so they can continue to serve their purpose. The same principle applies to politics.

It is true that politics in Nigeria has become dirty in many respects. This is largely because it has been dominated by people who use it wrongly—people driven by greed, selfishness, tribalism, and personal ambition rather than public service. However, if responsible and patriotic citizens abandon politics and leave it entirely in the hands of such individuals, the consequences for the nation can be devastating.

To prevent Nigeria from declining further, good citizens must pay attention to politics. They must understand that politics shapes almost every aspect of daily life—education, security, healthcare, infrastructure, employment, and economic opportunities. When citizens withdraw from politics, they unintentionally surrender control of their future to others.

Therefore, Nigerians must begin to change their negative mindset about politics. Instead of running away from it, responsible citizens must step forward and participate actively in the process of cleaning and transforming politics.

The primary gateway into politics is through political parties. Political parties are the platforms through which leaders emerge and public policies are developed. If political parties are populated by people of integrity and operated with transparency and democratic values, they can become powerful instruments for national development.

Joining a political party moves a citizen from the position of a mere spectator to an active participant in shaping the future of the nation. It gives individuals the opportunity to contribute to decision-making and to influence the quality of leadership that emerges in society.

Voting during elections is important. It is a civic duty that distinguishes responsible citizens from the “siddon look” generation—those who simply observe events from the sidelines without participating. However, joining a political party takes civic engagement to a higher level.

When you belong to a political party, you can work with other members to influence the selection of candidates who will represent the party in elections. If citizens limit themselves only to voting, they are often forced to choose from candidates that political parties have already selected without their input.

Therefore, the most effective way to clean up Nigeria’s dirty politics is for good citizens—those who have been sitting on the fence—to step forward. They should register to vote, join political parties, participate actively in the democratic process, and work collectively to support credible candidates for public office.

The amendment to the Electoral Act signed into law in 2026 has introduced a significant reform in Nigeria’s political process. One of the key changes is the removal of the delegate-based system for party primaries. Political parties can now nominate their candidates either through direct primaries, where all registered party members vote, or through consensus, where members collectively agree on a candidate.

This reform was introduced partly to reduce vote-buying among delegates and limit manipulation by powerful party elites, practices that have long undermined the emergence of credible candidates. What this means is simple but profound – the power to determine who the candidate of a political party has shifted closer to ordinary party members.

If you are genuinely concerned about seeing competent, credible, and people-centered candidates emerge to represent political parties, there has never been a more important time to get involved.The new law gives good candidates a better chance of winning party primaries—but that opportunity will only translate into real change if good citizens actively participate in the process.

The first and most important step is registering as a member of a political party. Under the current law, only registered party members can vote in party primaries. In other words, if you are not a member of a political party, you have no voice in deciding who its candidate becomes. The Electoral Act 2026 introduced an important reform that requires political parties in Nigeria to maintain and submit an electronic (digital) membership register to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). This is one of the major institutional reforms designed to improve transparency in party primaries and internal democracy. As a result of this requirement, joining a political party has become much easier. Everything can be done electronically.

Democracy does not begin on the day of election. It begins inside the political parties where candidates are chosen. If Nigerians who desire better leadership step forward, register, and participate, the primaries can become a powerful platform for producing the kind of leaders the country desperately needs. That is how dirty politics becomes cleansed. The opportunity is now. The responsibility is ours. All you need to do is to genuinely scrutinize the political parties, their policies and people to determine the one that best aligns with your values.

It can’t be over – stated that joining a political party is one of the most practical ways citizens can influence governance and national development. There are five important reasons why every patriotic citizen should consider joining a political party.

The first reason is to Influence Leadership and Public Policy. Political parties are the platforms through which leaders emerge and public policies are shaped. By becoming a member of a political party, you gain the opportunity to influence leadership selection and policy decisions that affect the future of your country.

Gaining the opportunity to participate actively in democracy is the second reason to join politics.Democracy functions best when citizens participate beyond merely voting on election day. Party membership allows individuals to contribute to discussions, policy development, and candidate selection within the democratic system.

Joining a political party provides you the opportunity to promote your values and ideals. Political parties represent different visions for society. By joining a party, you can promote the principles and ideas you believe will move your community and nation forward. If you limit your involvement only to voting on the day of election, you operate only from the fringes of politics. You have to be inside to change negative value system. What makes politics dirty is the lack of values by many of the people running it. When people with good values get involved in their large number and become the majority, politics will be cleansed faster than you can ever imagine.

Being a part of a political party affords an individual the opportunity to develop leadership and civic skills at the ward level, local government level, constituency level all the way up. Active involvement in political parties provides opportunities for training, mentorship, and leadership development. It helps individuals build or utilize skills in public speaking, organizing, negotiation, and community mobilization.

Political parties connect citizens with leaders, activists, and policymakers.The fifth benefit of joining political parties is the opportunity to build networks and influence change. The networks built strengthen the ability of individuals to mobilize support, advocate for important issues, and contribute meaningfully to national development.

The best regulators of politics are good people. Politics will only become clean when good people enter it. When responsible citizens withdraw from politics, they leave the field open to those who may not have the nation’s best interests at heart. But when patriotic Nigerians step forward to participate, organize, and lead, politics can be transformed into a powerful instrument for national progress.

If we truly desire a better Nigeria, we must move beyond complaints and become active participants in the political process. The responsibility to clean our politics belongs to all of us. The journey of a thousand years begins with a step. The first step to take in cleansing politics is the step of involvement.

Olanrewaju Osho is a change strategist, development advocate and transformation apostle. He is passionate about national rebirth and sustainable development in Nigeria and Africa. He was the SDP Senatorial Candidate for Senate for FCT in the 2023 elections.