Prosper Okoye
The Movement for Credible Elections (MCE) has criticised the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) over its recent national convention, saying the process undermined democratic governance and could weaken Nigeria’s political pluralism ahead of the 2027 elections.
In a statement, MCE said the convention, held after state-level congresses, “did not measure up to a genuine exercise of democratic consensus,” alleging that party leaders sidelined aspirants, limited competition, and concentrated power among a small group of insiders.
The group raised concerns about reports of political retaliation against dissenting voices, warning that such trends could push Nigeria toward a de facto one-party system. “Across several states, reports of parallel congresses and exclusion of legitimate stakeholders suggest an effort to eliminate competition and centralize control,” MCE said. “Democratic participation is being replaced with a culture of fear, where loyalty is rewarded and independence is punished.”
Join our WhatsApp ChannelMCE also highlighted that women, youth, and marginalized groups risk being further excluded from political processes. The group urged the APC to restore genuine internal democracy and allow free competition in its party processes, and called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to enforce democratic standards.
The statement came after Aminu Masari, chairman of the APC National Convention Central Coordination Committee, said during a pre-conference briefing that the party had zoned positions and anyone seeking roles outside their designated zones would not be considered. Masari said some aspirants who paid for forms outside their zones are “people who want to destabilise the party.”
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MCE said Nigerians across political and civic divides must defend pluralism, participation, and accountability, describing the current trajectory as “a critical crossroads” for the country’s democracy.
Prosper Okoye is a Correspondent and Research Writer at Prime Business Africa, a Nigerian journalist with experience in development reporting, public affairs, and policy-focused storytelling across Africa
