Yiaga Africa warns against one-party dominance ahead of 2027 elections

Yiaga Africa, a civil society organisation (CSO), says a one-party state could threaten competition ahead of the 2027 general election.

The findings were contained in a report detailing the state of election integrity in Nigeria released Friday.

Recently, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has become overwhelmingly dominant due to mass defections from opposition parties, internal divisions within the opposition, and the inability of other parties to mount a serious electoral challenge.

Analysts and commentators note that while multiple parties exist on paper, the APC’s political strength and the weakness of opposition parties have led to a situation where effective competition is minimal.

Yiaga Africa said electoral competitiveness is a key ingredient of electoral integrity but noted that it is under threat.

“The strategic use of incumbency power appears to be facilitating a shift toward one-party dominance, rather than a natural consequence of Nigeria’s First-Past-the-Post (FPTP) electoral system.This trend suggests an attempt to predetermine the outcome of the 2027 general election,” the report reads.

Umo Eno, governor of Akwa Ibom state, and Sheriff Oborevwori, governor of Delta, recently defected to the APC.

Both states were widely perceived as strongholds for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Ifeanyi Okowa, former governor of Delta and the PDP vice-presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, also defected to the APC.

Several senators and house of representative members also joined in the wave of decamping to the ruling party.

Defectors cited internal upheaval within the opposition parties as reason for the massive migration.

Yiaga Africa said public signals from prominent figures within the APC welcoming more members reinforce suspicions that the crises affecting the main opposition parties are being instigated by the ruling party.

“These developments suggest the deliberate weakening of the opposition through a combination of inducements and pressure what many describe as a carrot-and-stick approach by the ruling party,” the report reads.

“Opposition governors seeking re-election are reportedly being promised automatic tickets and federal support.”

The CSO warned that the idea of a one-state party poses a threat to the integrity of the 2027 general election.

Earlier this month, President Bola Tinubu dismissed the one-party state narrative, pledging support for political plurality.

However, the president mocked the opposition for failing to tame their internal squabbles.

Yiaga also named growing poverty levels and social exclusion, declining public trust in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), disinformation and artificial intelligence, political culture and attitudinal challenges, and insecurity as threat to the polls.

The CSO recommended a timely conclusion of the reform process, scrutiny of appointment of INEC commissioners, passage of the bill on special seats for women, and using off-season elections to rebuild trust as interventions.