Nigeria's democratic journey, hard-won after decades of military struggle, currently teeters on the edge of a precipice. The brewing crisis within the African Democratic Congress, ADC, is not merely an internal party squabble; it is a litmus test for the resilience of our constitutional order.
When an interim leadership led by David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola--the result of a strategic realignment involving Nigeria's foremost opposition figures--is decapitated by administrative fiat and judicial technicalities, the signal sent to the electorate is one of managed exclusion rather than open contestation.
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, must remain true to its name. The "Independent" in INEC is not a decorative prefix; it is a constitutional mandate. Professor Joash Amupitan, upon his assumption of office, pledged to deliver the best elections in our political history. However, integrity is not found in grand declarations but in the granular details of administrative fairness.
The decision to delist the ADC leadership, purportedly in obedience to a judicial order despite questionable claims of legitimacy by rival factions raises a red flag. For Professor Amupitan, the time to match words with action has arrived. He must ensure that INEC does not become a tool of any political interest to prune the opposition before a single ballot is cast.
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Simultaneously, the judiciary must exercise extreme caution. Already burdened by a battered image resulting from conflicting rulings and political interference, the bench cannot afford to be the hangman of democratic plurality. It must put the survival of democracy in Nigeria above the convenience of political actors.
The 2027 electoral process must be free from criminal manipulation for three fundamental reasons. First, legitimacy is the bedrock of stability; a leader birthed by a flawed process cannot command the national sacrifice and loyalty required to fix our insecurity and economic woes.
Second, social cohesion depends on the belief that change is possible through the ballot box. Third, international credibility is essential for Nigeria's leadership role in Africa and beyond. We cannot preach democracy abroad while practising autocracy at home.
The dangers of denying opposition parties the right to field candidates are stark. It oils the risks of pushing Nigeria towards a one-party state, which inevitably leads to tyranny and the death of accountability. It also invites extra-constitutional agitation. When the path to the polling unit is blocked, people are driven toward more radical alternatives.
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Democracy is a marketplace of ideas. INEC and the judiciary must protect the rights of all parties to operate freely.
To do otherwise is to stuff the nation in a keg of gunpowder.
