Former presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Prof. Pat Utomi has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of working with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to undermine democracy in Nigeria.
Utomi, member of Movement for Credible Elections (MCE), warned that Nigeria’s democracy faces serious danger, alleging that the electoral laws are likely to be manipulated to favour the ruling party.
At a press conference in Lagos on Sunday, the former presidential candidate expressed concern at what he described as growing constitutional violations and declining electoral participation under the ruling APC.
According to him, the controversies sorrounding 2026 Electoral Act and actions by the INEC suggested a “reckless desperation” by those in power, warning that continued interference could erode the legitimacy of the Nigerian state.
Utomi said the low voter turnout in the last Abuja Area Council elections was a “deepening public disillusionment with the electoral system,” and cautioned that persistent voter apathy could trigger social instability if citizens lose faith in democratic processes.
He accused INEC and the APC of interfering in the internal affairs of political parties, a move he argued, undermines constitutional guarantees of freedom of association.
“The people must stand up now to save the future for their children,” Utomi said, calling for active but peaceful civic engagement to safeguard democracy.
He lamented that Nigerians seemed to have learnt nothing from the dark days of the military rule in the country.
“It has been traumatic for us to stare at corruption rising past what they were in Abacha’s time when with crude oil at $9 a barrel the people had a better living standard than they have today.
“It is even more disheartening that democracy some of us put our lives on the line for is as threatened today as it was then when our judiciary had more men that had the spine for justice and truth than is the case today,” Utomi further lamented.
The MCE however said it would pursue legal redress and also mobilise civil resistance through non-violent means to defend democratic norms.
As part of its proposed interventions ahead of the 2027 elections, the organisation unveiled an eight-point action plan aimed at promoting transparency and safeguarding electoral credibility.
Among the initiatives is a plan to collaborate with civil society organisations to establish independent election result viewing portals where party agents would upload photographed copies of polling unit result sheets (Form EC8A) immediately after signing, enabling real-time monitoring by local and international media.
The group also announced plans to recruit and train “vote marshals,” comprising retired military and police personnel, to be deployed nationwide during elections to help monitor polling processes.
Other measures include large-scale voter education campaigns to combat voter apathy, engagement with religious and non-governmental organisations to promote electoral accountability, and collaboration with academia and the media to scrutinise proposed amendments to electoral laws.
The MCE further called on Nigerians in the diaspora to draw global attention to developments in the country’s political environment, warning that actions perceived as anti-democratic could damage Nigeria’s international standing.
In addition, the organisation appealed to elder statesmen, former national leaders, and traditional rulers to intervene and help preserve political stability and democratic conventions.
The group demanded an immediate review of what it described as “doctored” electoral legislation, urging electoral authorities to return to transparency or consider resignation if public confidence cannot be restored.
The MCE compared current political tensions to Nigeria’s military era, warning that rising corruption, divisive rhetoric, and political intolerance could endanger national cohesion if not addressed.
