The presidential candidate for the now-defunct National Conscience Party (NCP) during the 2015 general elections, Martin Onovo, has expressed skepticism about the possibility of having a free, fair, and credible election in Nigeria in 2027.
According to The Guardian, Onovo shared his concerns recently while commenting on the current state of the nation, suggesting that Nigeria is veering away from true democratic practices.
Onovo noted that what exists in Nigeria is akin to a “maximum civilian dictatorship” rather than a genuine democratic system. This, he believes, significantly mars the electoral process and undermines the democratic principles essential for credible elections.
Onovo particularly criticized the conduct of the 2024 gubernatorial elections in Edo State, labelling it a “charade” orchestrated by the ruling party to subvert the rule of law and compromise the integrity of the electoral process.
He argued that such actions set a precedent that could negatively impact future elections, including the anticipated 2027 general elections.
Onovo said, “Do not call that an election. There is no democracy in Nigeria. The two pillars of democracy are the rule of law and the integrity of the ballot. Both are absent in Nigeria presently. What we have now is a maximum civilian dictatorship.
“The current civilian dictatorship in Nigeria arranged a charade and appointed a governor for Edo State. It was not a surprise to us because we know the undemocratic ‘Emi lo kan’ modus operandi of the current civilian dictatorship in Nigeria, and we expected the Edo State charade.
“After the ‘coup d’etat’ nicknamed presidential elections in 2023, we saw the Imo State and Kogi State charades. Now, we have seen it repeated in Edo State. It was a celebration of criminal brigandage and impunity.”
He said it was wrong for the sitting president to publicly declare that he would give Edo State to the All Progressives Congress (APC), adding that Tinubu used the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the police to ensure the result swung in their favour.
“Very clearly; Jagaban Tinubu publicly promised to “give” Edo State to the All Progressives Congress (APC). He proceeded to do so with impunity. He used the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the police to “give” Edo State to his APC,” he alleged.
He added that INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Wike’s cousin and acolyte as Edo State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), violated the rules of the election.
According to him, the fraudulent results showed several votes higher than the number of accredited voters in some constituencies. Collation was hijacked, and agents of participating parties were excluded to allow the criminal forgery of results.
“Collation was hijacked, and agents of participating parties were excluded to allow the criminal forgery of results. Officers of the Nigeria Police were viciously intimidating and arresting supporters of other parties.
“Other officers of the same Nigeria Police provided cover for the hijack of collation and forgery of results. Most importantly, the declared results are different from the authentic results published on the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV). What imbecility,” he lamented.