Chidinma Iroegbu
Fresh concerns have emerged over the credibility and stability of the 2027 general election following growing internal crises in major opposition parties and ongoing litigation challenging the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)’s election timetable.
While the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has concluded its presidential primary with President Bola Tinubu emerging candidate, opposition parties including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), African Democratic Congress (ADC) and Social Democratic Party (SDP) remain entangled in disputes over parallel primaries and conflicting candidate lists.
Political stakeholders and civil society groups warned that unresolved party crises and court battles could complicate preparations for the 2027 elections and weaken confidence in Nigeria’s democratic process.
President Tinubu secured the APC presidential ticket with 10,999,162 votes, a figure opposition parties described as excessive and difficult to verify ahead of the general election.
Concerns have also been raised over the transparency of party primaries, with critics accusing political godfathers and governors of influencing delegate processes and weakening internal democracy within political parties.
In the ADC, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar emerged presidential candidate amid protests from aspirants Rotimi Amaechi and Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, who alleged irregularities during the direct primary exercise.
Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), emerged unopposed after joining the party alongside former Kano State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso following their exit from the ADC.
Several other politicians have also secured tickets across different parties, including Donald Duke of the Peoples Redemption Party, Governor Seyi Makinde of the Allied Peoples Movement, Adewole Adebayo of the SDP and Omoyele Sowore of the African Action Congress.
Meanwhile, legal disputes over INEC’s timetable have intensified after Justice Umar of the Federal High Court, Abuja, ruled that aspects of the commission’s regulations exceeded powers granted under the Electoral Act 2026.
The Movement for Credible Elections (MCE), led by Dr. Usman Bugaje and former Education Minister Dr. Obiageli Ezekwesili, warned that INEC’s decision to appeal the judgment and seek a stay of execution could damage public trust in the electoral process ahead of the 2027 polls.