UN Representative Says APC, INEC Working To Undermine Nigeria's Democracy

A Representative of the United Nations, Olufemi Aduwo has expressed concern over what he described as a deliberate and coordinated effort to weaken opposition parties and distort the democratic process by both the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

Aduwo decried the joint effort of both INEC and the Federal Government, now threatening the growth of Nigeria’s democracy, pointing out that both parties were taking actions capable of weakening opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Aduwo, is the Permanent Representative of the Centre for Convention on Democratic Integrity to ECOSOC. 

He said in a statement on Monday that recent political developments bear disturbing similarities to events leading to the annulment of the June 12 1993 presidential election.

According to him, the legal manoeuvres and political interference in 1993, disrupted what was widely regarded as Nigeria’s freest and fairest election.

He recalled the role of Arthur Nzeribe and the Association for Better Nigeria, which obtained a controversial court injunction that created the basis for the military government under Ibrahim Babangida to cancel the election, noting that the present situation show similar tactics being deployed in a more subtle manner under civilian rule.

Aduwo claimed that the ruling APC was encouraging internal divisions within opposition parties, leading to leadership disputes and prolonged litigation in a bid to weaken them ahead of the 2027 polls.

He identified the crisis within the African Democratic Congress, ADC, as a clear example, stating that the party had been destabilised through factional claims and judicial entanglements allegedly sided by APC and INEC.

Aduwo further noted that INEC’s decision to remove the names of the party’s recognised National Working Committee from its official portal has effectively rendered the party leaderless and unable to function properly, pointing out that such action goes beyond administrative procedure and raises serious concerns about the neutrality of the electoral umpire in a democratic system.

His words, “This is not political happenstance. It is a deliberate and coordinated effort to weaken opposition platforms and distort the democratic process.

“What we are witnessing is a gradual erosion of democratic structures through institutional capture and procedural manipulation.

“If opposition parties are systematically crippled, then elections lose their meaning and become mere formalities rather than genuine contests.” 

Aduwo then warned that any attempt to impose a one party dominance in the country would provoke resistance from citizens, thus further weakening trust in democratic institutions.