Parties, Not Just INEC, as 2027 Elections Approach – PAACA

 

The Peering Advocacy and Advancement Centre in Africa (PAACA) has urged Nigerians to pay closer attention to political parties and politicians, rather than concentrating solely on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), as preparations for the 2027 general elections gain momentum.

In a statement issued in Abuja on Thursday, Ezenwa Nwagwu, PAACA executive director, said the overemphasis on INEC has often overshadowed internal democracy within parties, which he identified as a major source of electoral problems.

“Flawed primary elections often determine the outcome of general elections,” Nwagwu said, noting that candidate imposition, lack of competition, and absence of genuine contests undermine Nigeria’s democratic process.

He explained that “90 per cent of the challenges we face during elections stem from weak internal democracy—imposition of candidates, absence of genuine contests, and lack of competition within parties.”

The PAACA director also called on citizens to monitor defections across parties, warning that such movements could deepen internal crises and erode democratic values.

“Stakeholders must pay close attention to the activities of political parties. The selection of leaders is a sacred process managed by parties, not INEC. Sometimes unqualified candidates are presented, and the matter ends up in court,” he said.

Nwagwu stressed that electoral reforms must extend beyond legislative changes, pointing out that politicians’ attitudes toward democracy remain a critical factor.

“We often blame election administrators, but about 60 per cent of electoral crises are orchestrated by political actors themselves. Good laws are not enough if politicians subvert them,” he said.

He further warned that political activities and self-promotion would intensify in 2026, urging citizens to hold politicians accountable for their impact on governance, particularly in areas like health and education.

Nwagwu also criticised lawmakers for symbolic gestures during constituency visits, such as distributing rice, instead of engaging meaningfully with constituents through town hall meetings.

On electoral reforms, he highlighted the need for electronic collation of results from polling units to local government levels and recommended innovations such as reserved legislative seats for women, diaspora voting, and early voting to broaden Nigeria’s democratic space.

He lamented the absence of ideological opposition, describing Nigerian politics as dominated by “opposition figures, not opposition parties,” and noted a lack of alternative economic vision beyond repeated IMF-driven privatisation policies.