Political economist, Prof Pat Utomi, on Thursday warned that President Bola Tinubu is steering Nigeria toward a one-man presidency, raising alarms over the state of democratic competition ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Speaking at a press conference in Victoria Island, Utomi accused the Independent National Electoral Commission and the ruling All Progressives Congress of collaborating to sideline opposition parties, describing the move as a step toward authoritarianism.

A coalition of political actors and civil society figures, Movement for Credible Elections, had organised the press conference on Thursday, where speakers accused Nigeria’s electoral body and ruling party of working to sideline opposition candidates ahead of the 2027 general election, warning of a deepening threat to democratic competition.

The movement alleged that an “emerging alliance” among INEC, the ruling APC and elements of the judiciary aimed at excluding opposition parties from the ballot.

Utomi, speaking, compared the President to an authoritarian figure.

“I hope you can all recall the last time we had a press conference here, I said that this was the plan,” he said, referring to earlier warnings.

“Everybody will be surprised that this is a progression towards one-man rule. Not even the APC rule. Eventually, all these APC characters running around would be decimated, and Bola Tinubu would be Hitler. That is really the goal, it is his nature, it is what he is pursuing,” he said.

The comment underscored the tone of the wider statement, signed by the MCE leadership and obtained by The PUNCH.

The movement accused electoral authorities of actions that could “disenfranchise and exclude legitimate presidential contestants and political parties” in the next election cycle.

Central to the group’s concerns is the recent decision by INEC to withdraw recognition of the leadership of the African Democratic Congress, led by David Mark.

The MCE described the move as “a malicious attempt to decapitate the ADC and the opposition in general.”

The commission had cited a Court of Appeal order directing that the status quo ante bellum be maintained within the party.

But the group argued that the decision effectively paralysed the party’s internal processes at a critical moment, noting that INEC had also indicated it would not monitor upcoming party congresses.

“So, where does this decision leave all the aspirants of one of the largest opposition parties in Nigeria?” the statement asked.

The group further alleged a pattern of interference in opposition parties, claiming that INEC, in collaboration with political actors, had weakened both the Labour Party and the Peoples Democratic Party.

“We have been witnesses to how INEC, in conjunction with a section of the judiciary and agents of the Tinubu government, emasculated the Labour Party and later destroyed the Peoples Democratic Party… to inflict a one-man rule agenda on Nigeria,” the statement said.

In particularly sharp language, the group declared that “INEC as presently constituted has shown that it is anything but Independent.

“It (INEC) is but a gang of electoral bandits, whose sole mandate is to make Bola Ahmed Tinubu the sole presidential contestant in the 2027 elections,” the statement added.

The MCE said it would respond with a nationwide mobilisation campaign, including rallies and town hall meetings across the country’s six geopolitical zones and the federal capital, as part of what it described as “a well-coordinated mass resistance to the growing despotism and electoral conspiracy.”

It also called for the resignation of the INEC chairman and demanded sweeping electoral reforms.

“We demand a comprehensive electoral reform which will guarantee free, fair and credible elections in 2027,” the group said.

The statement was signed by MCE Chairman, Usman Bugaje, co-chair, Ayuba Wabba and several other political and civil society figures, including Oby Ezekwesili and Femi Falana.

The accusations mark one of the most forceful critiques yet from a coalition of opposition-aligned figures ahead of the 2027 elections, raising the stakes in what is shaping up to be an increasingly contentious political contest. (The PUNCH)

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