Former National Electoral Commissioner and Senior Fellow, Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), Prof. Adele Jinadu, has said that the recent wave of defections by political actors is a direct result of the abuse of state power ahead of the 2027 general elections.

According to the Professor of Political Science, the spate of defections is not merely coincidental, but reflects the deliberate use of state apparatus to weaken the opposition and consolidate power by those in office.

Jinadu stated this at a one-day dialogue on Promoting Grassroots Mobilisation for Election Mandate Protection, organised by the CDD in collaboration with the African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development (Centre LSD) and Peering Advocacy and Advancement Centre in Africa.

The dialogue featured participants from Bayelsa, Imo, Kogi, Edo, Ondo, and the FCT, with discussions focused on fostering inclusive democratic participation and safeguarding the sanctity of the ballot ahead of upcoming off-cycle elections and the 2027 general polls.

Jinadu, who is a former president of the International Political Science Association, cautioned that the ongoing defections and questionable procurements are early signs of systemic manipulation of the democratic process.

According to him, the misuse of state resources and institutions, especially two years ahead of the general elections, undermines electoral credibility and weakens public confidence in Nigeria?s democracy.

He also faulted the process by which partisan individuals are nominated and appointed into sensitive electoral roles, often with little or no resistance from citizens or institutions, describing it as a blatant subversion of democratic norms.

He said ?We see It being used right from now, two years before the elections, using state power to corrupt the governance process and particularly the electoral process. All the procurement that has been done, all the defections result from the use of state power to prepare ahead of that election.

?Somebody elected is chosen to be an Electoral Commissioner who is a party cardholder. We talk for one day. The following day, the nomination goes to the National Assembly. By evening, he?s been appointed as a Resident Electoral Commissioner. And we stay back,?

Stressing the need for accountability, Jinadu called for electoral vigilance and grassroots mobilisation to protect electoral mandates.

He proposed the formation of community-level election task forces, modeled after Ghana and Zambia?s examples, to serve as night watchmen and women in defence of democracy.

?We are not waiting for the state. We have vigilantes who protect our houses at night. What is more important than your vote? And we are not concerned about that. Where is our civic responsibility as Nigerians?? he added.

Speaking, Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Yusuf Mamman Dantalle, lamented Nigeria?s history of electoral malpractice and voter apathy.

He described it as a tragedy for a country that has maintained 26 years of unbroken democracy.

Dantalle also revealed that IPAC would explore the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to enhance membership mobilisation, voter education, and election monitoring.

While urging the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to remain neutral and ensure its technological tool function optimally, Dantalle reaffirmed IPAC?s readiness to collaborate with all stakeholders committed to free, fair and credible elections. (Saturday Guardian)

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