Dr Sam Amadi, Associate Professor and Director of the Abuja School of Social and Political Thought, has warned that Nigeria’s 2027 general elections could be chaotic, citing weak institutional preparedness, operational inefficiencies, and rising political tension as major threats to the process’s credibility.

Amadi, who spoke at a webinar organised by the Think Tank for Sustainable Development (TTSD) titled “Nigeria Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow: Examining a Nation’s Trajectory”, said both electoral authorities and political parties appear inadequately prepared for the scale and complexity of the elections.

According to him, gaps in planning and execution could lead to a process that is not only inefficient but also vulnerable to manipulation.

The former Chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) noted that the desperation among political actors—including attempts to influence outcomes through pressure, inducement, or institutional loopholes—could further complicate the electoral landscape. Despite this, he expressed hope that the elections would still hold, although likely with significant challenges.

Amadi, however, noted that the more critical issue is the integrity of the electoral process. He argued that ensuring elections are free and fair is far more important than the identity of the eventual winner, stressing that credible elections lay the foundation for long-term accountability and good governance.

He, therefore, called on citizens, civil society organisations, and political parties to take a more active role in safeguarding the electoral process through vigilance, transparency, and sustained pressure on institutions to adhere to established rules. According to him, real-time monitoring and public scrutiny would be crucial in limiting irregularities and restoring confidence in the system.

Amadi added that while Nigeria’s broader challenges are deeply rooted in structural and institutional weaknesses, improving the credibility of elections remains a critical step towards strengthening democracy and rebuilding public trust.

He said, “My own sense is that the 2027 election is more likely to be chaotic, more likely to be inefficient in terms of process. The electoral body is not fully prepared, the parties themselves are not prepared, and you can already see gaps in planning and execution. Even without rigging, the quality of performance may be low.

“You do not just need an honest person to run elections; you need someone with the courage to say no, someone who can withstand pressure from politicians, resist inducement and intimidation, and still uphold the rules. That is where the real challenge lies in Nigeria’s electoral system.

“A free and fair election is actually more important than having a ‘good’ person win. What credible elections do is create the right incentives; they make those in power understand that they can lose, and when that happens, they are more likely to govern in a way that responds to the people.” (Daily Sun)