Pat Utomi, a political economist and public affairs analyst, and the Movement for Credible Elections (MCE) claimed yesterday that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) conspired to weaken opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The organization raised the alert in Lagos in response to INEC’s decision to withdraw recognition of the African Democratic Congress’ (ADC) leadership, which included David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola as chairman and secretary, respectively.
Utomi condemned the occurrence as “a coordinated assault on Nigeria’s democracy” and claimed that the country is “currently in a worse state than during the regime” of former Head of State Sani Abacha.
According to the group, INEC’s conduct, which is reportedly based on a Court of Appeal ruling to maintain the status quo, violates the ADC’s existing leadership structure and calls into question the electoral process’s credibility.
They also claimed that the commission refused to accept party communications and suggested that it would not monitor the party’s congresses, which are set to begin on April 7.
“Where does this decision leave all the aspirants of one of the largest opposition parties in Nigeria?” the group queried, warning that such actions could disenfranchise credible presidential aspirants and undermine multiparty democracy.
MCE described the move as “a malicious attempt to decapitate the opposition,” claiming that recent incidents indicate a larger pattern of intervention with opposition parties.
The organization cited internal conflicts in the Labour Party Nigeria and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), stating that political actors, including Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike, were involved in destabilizing opposition platforms.
MCE accused President Bola Tinubu’s administration of misusing democratic institutions to advance its one-man rule agenda.
“INEC, as presently constituted, has shown that it is anything but independent. It is acting in a manner that suggests a deliberate attempt to exclude viable opposition candidates from the 2027 elections,” the group said.
MCE announced its next plan of action, which includes statewide protests and town hall meetings to mobilize Nigerians against what it describes as rising authoritarianism and political conspiracy.
The mobilisation, it added, would span six geopolitical zones, commencing in Gombe on April 9 and culminating in a national convergence in Abuja on April 27.
The group also demanded the immediate resignation of the INEC leadership, arguing that extensive electoral changes are required to ensure free, fair, and credible elections in 2027.
