Abuja: A don, Prof. Samuel Egwu, has warned that the 2027 general elections may weaken Nigeria’s electoral integrity unless the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) holds political parties accountable. Egwu, from the Department of Political Science at the University of Jos, issued this caution during the Centre for Democracy and Development West Africa (CDD-West Africa) Annual Memorial Lecture in Abuja.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the lecture was held in honor of the founders of the center, the late Dr. Tajudeen Abdul-Raheem and Prof. Abubakar Momoh. Abdul-Raheem and Momoh, who passed away on May 25, 2009, and May 29, 2017, respectively, were instrumental in promoting democracy, social justice, and people-centered development across Africa through their scholarship, activism, and institution-building efforts.
Egwu, speaking on the theme ‘From Promise to Paralysis: Political Parties and the Challenges of Democratic Consolidation in Nigeria,’ emphasized the need for a renewed commitment to democracy, social justice, and human rights in memory of the late democracy advocates. He highlighted that the honorees were dedicated to advancing human dignity, democratic governance, and social emancipation beyond mere political freedom.
He argued that democracy should enhance citizens’ welfare rather than just ensuring regular elections and political participation. Egwu noted that while elections have been consistently conducted since 1999, tangible improvements in citizens’ living conditions remain largely absent. He further pointed out that the substantive benefits of democracy, including social and economic development, have not matched the progress made in electoral processes.
Egwu urged Nigerians to move beyond merely commemorating democracy heroes by actively defending democratic values and accountable governance. He warned that failing to keep democracy on track could have significant consequences for national stability and development. Both ruling and opposition parties, he suggested, have shown tendencies indicating that the 2027 elections may suffer from declining electoral credibility.
He stressed the importance of national institutions and think tanks taking up the challenge of building responsive and democratic political parties. He called for practical approaches to party regulations, noting that INEC appears helpless in the face of political parties’ impunity. Egwu stated that while parties have established procedures for selecting candidates, and INEC has electoral laws guiding this process, a major reform is necessary to hold parties accountable to their own rules.
In his earlier remarks, the Director of CDD-West Africa, Dr. Dauda Garuba, noted that Nigeria’s democracy had repeatedly suffered setbacks because political parties failed to effectively perform their constitutional responsibilities. Garuba observed that political parties should serve as platforms for leadership recruitment, policy development, and democratic accountability rather than just seeking political power. He expressed concern that many parties have become ideologically weak and lack integrity, making democratic governance increasingly difficult.
Garuba also highlighted that several major political parties have yet to publish verified candidates’ lists despite the upcoming elections, causing uncertainty among citizens and stakeholders. Prof. Nana Tanko, Co-founder/Chief Executive Officer of the African Policy Research Institute, urged political parties to promote democracy, ideology, and citizen trust. She stated that democracy weakens when parties remain authoritarian and citizenship is reduced to voting without advancing equality, dignity, and development.
Tanko argued that Nigeria’s political party crisis results from flawed choices, institutions, and political culture. She called for legal reforms, ethical parties, stronger civil society, ideological clarity, and citizen-centered governance to achieve democratic consolidation.