By Engr. Teddy IK Obey
The signs Nigerians are seeing today desperately being displayed by President “Emilokan” shows that the man is afraid of the ballot and not ready for future elections. He does not want to contest the 2027 election with any person especially, a formidable candidate.
It is very shameful that “Mr. Emilokan is doing everything possible to foreclose political parties in Nigeria from contesting the 2027 Presidential election. His philosophy is at variance with the vision of past Presidents lfrom 1999 to 2023. It is on record that “Baba Sanjo” in 2003 contested the Presidential election with Late Muhammadu Buhari, while “Goodluck Azikiwe” in 2011, as an incumbent President contested the election with Late Muhammadu Buhari who later defeated him in the contest. Thereafter, he accepted the outcome of the election and congratulated him!
However, in 2019, Late Buhari contested with a former Vice President and Presidential candidate of ADC as a rival. Retrospectively, non of these incumbent Presidents neither deregistered, intimidated, harassed nor foreclosed any political party from contesting. This is because, the idea of multi-partism was respected and allowed to strengthen democracy.
No President should seek to govern in an atmosphere where viable political opposition is weakened or eliminated. President “Emilokan” does not need to go into the next election without credible challengers to secure a legitimate victory. If his administration has earned the confidence of Nigerians, it should be prepared to face every qualified political party at the ballot box. Legitimacy is strengthened by competition, not by the absence of it.
It is painful and shameful to note that the purported deregistration of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) and other opposition parties is widely viewed as a threat to Nigeria’s democracy because it undermines multi-party competition and fosters fears of a creeping one-party state ahead of the 2027 elections.
A functional democracy thrives on competitive elections and viable alternatives. Deregistring the NDC and other critical political parties is seen as an attempt to tactically weaken challengers facing the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). The idea of exposing Nigeria to international disrepute is made manifest through the jaundiced and “pay as you go” judicial judgements which if critically reviewed, can’t stand the test of logical legal jurisprudence
The judicial removal of opposition parties such as the controversial Federal High Court ruling in Lokoja has raised alarm. Prominent lawyers and politicians argue that using the courts to constrict the democratic space subverts the electoral process and erodes public trust in judicial independence.
Political parties serve as vehicles for citizens to participate in governance. The deregistration disenfranchises everyday Nigerians who have invested their time, money, and political aspirations into these platforms. Currently, the pronouncement of the court has ridiculed Nigerian international reputation.
Threats to democracy primarily stem from a combination of elected leaders eroding institutions from within, severe economic inequality, and the rapid spread of digital disinformation. These vulnerabilities create environments where public trust fractures and authoritarian practices can take root.
Executive overreach is one of the key drivers of democratic decline. When elected officials demonize political opponents, stack the courts, and weaken independent election bodies, they hollow out the democratic checks and balances that prevent autocracy.
When citizens lose faith in political systems due to corruption and executive rascality, they withdraw from participation, enabling extreme political factions to dominate elections.
Nigeria’s democracy must never be reduced to a system where the outcome of elections appears predetermined by the weakening of political alternatives. Every lawful political party has a right to exist, to campaign and to test its popularity before the Nigerian people. This is what President Emilokan should avoid!
