African Democratic Congress (ADC) 2007 presidential candidate, Pat Utomi, has warned of growing political exclusion in Nigeria, drawing a comparison between the current democratic dispensation and the era of Sani Abacha.

Speaking on Arise News, the renowned political economist alleged that there is a deliberate effort by the ruling party to sideline major opposition forces from the electoral process.

“There is a deliberate attempt by the ruling party to exclude significant political opponents from the ballot box, utilising the capture of INEC and state institutions,” he said.

Utomi claimed that key institutions, particularly the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), have been compromised, accusing the electoral body of acting in alignment with the interests of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

He cited INEC’s swift validation of the Wike-aligned faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as evidence of institutional bias.

“INEC’s rush to validate the Wike-faction PDP convention is evidence that it functions as a parastatal of the APC,” Utomi said.

According to him, such developments point to a broader pattern of manipulation within the executive arm of government, which he argued is eroding democratic principles and weakening public trust in the system.

Utomi warned that if Nigerians fail to resist these trends, the country risks a breakdown of its democratic order.

“If the people do not rise to take their country back, democracy will come to an end.”

He further asserted that the ruling party is reluctant to face the electorate amid worsening economic conditions, suggesting that the high level of hardship could influence voter sentiment.

“The one thing the APC does not want to see is the people’s votes, given the high misery index it has imposed.”

He called on citizens to remain vigilant and actively defend the democratic process, stressing that sustained inaction could deepen political exclusion and undermine the credibility of future elections. (The Sun)