Politics
…urges Nigerians to resist the plot to hijack 2027
By Victoria Frances
THE Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has strongly condemned in the shameless manipulation, reckless impunity, coordinated intimidation, and disgraceful outcome of the ongoing primary elections of the All Progressives Congress, which have now exposed before the world the frightening collapse of internal democracy within Nigeria’s ruling party.
In a statement on May 20, Emmanuel Nnadozie Onwubiko, national coordinator, HURIWA, said
“What Nigerians have witnessed is not democracy. It is political criminality dressed in electoral clothing.”
Onwubiko said: “The chaotic scenes, allegations of fabricated results, suppression of delegates, intimidation of aspirants, violence, coercion, and open disorder surrounding the APC primaries have destroyed whatever remains of public confidence in the ruling party’s democratic credentials.”
According to him, “A political party that cannot organize a credible internal contest among its own members has absolutely no moral legitimacy to supervise, influence, or speak about credible national elections in 2027.”
Said he: “The APC primaries have exposed a dangerous political culture where power is no longer earned through persuasion, popularity, competence, or democratic legitimacy, but through intimidation, manipulation, imposition, and raw political force.
“This is exactly why Nigerians are terrified about 2027. If aspirants within the same political family are already screaming about manipulation and irregularities, what then awaits ordinary Nigerians during the presidential election? If delegates are allegedly being bullied, silenced, or overridden during party primaries, what confidence should citizens have that their votes will count in the general election?”
HURIWA warned that “the ongoing APC primaries may have unintentionally exposed what could become the operational template for the 2027 elections if Nigerians remain passive.
“The signs are no longer hidden.
The desperation is no longer disguised.
The arrogance is now open.
Even more troubling is the deepening credibility crisis surrounding the Independent National Electoral Commission, especially following the unresolved public outrage generated by the controversial partisan activities and alleged political bias linked to INEC official Kunle Ajayi Amupitan during the 2023 presidential election.
“Those revelations severely damaged public trust in the neutrality and independence of the electoral commission. Sadly, instead of rebuilding confidence through accountability and transparency, recent developments suggest that Nigeria may be drifting toward a far more dangerous electoral crisis in 2027.
HURIWA stated clearly and unequivocally that a democracy cannot survive where electoral institutions lose credibility, political parties normalize impunity, and citizens are expected to accept manipulation as normal.
Nigeria is approaching a democratic crossroads.
“The country cannot endure another election poisoned by allegations of rigging, institutional compromise, voter suppression, judicial manipulation, security intimidation, and abuse of state power.
“The consequences could be catastrophic for national peace and stability.
We therefore call on Nigerians across all regions, religions, and political affiliations to immediately begin peaceful democratic resistance against every attempt to hijack the sovereignty of the people in 2027.
“Citizens must obtain their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), organize at community levels, monitor every stage of the electoral process, expose irregularities, resist intimidation, and lawfully defend the sanctity of their votes.
Defending your vote through lawful, peaceful, constitutional, and legitimate means is not an act of rebellion — it is a fundamental democratic right.
“Nigerians must understand that democracy dies gradually when citizens become silent in the face of impunity.
It dies when political manipulation is normalized.
“It dies when institutions become tools of partisan interests.
“It dies when fear replaces civic vigilance.
The APC primaries have now become a national warning signal.
“If this level of alleged manipulation and confusion can happen within the ruling party itself, then every Nigerian must understand the magnitude of the threat facing the 2027 general elections.
“The time to defend democracy is now — before the machinery of manipulation becomes impossible to stop.”
A.I
May 21, 2026
Tags: APC HURIWA