A prominent Nigerian lawyer and public affairs analyst, Justice Osai Ahiakwo, has strongly condemned the Senate's premature endorsement of President Bola Tinubu and other All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates for the 2027 general elections, describing it as a "flagrant violation" of Nigeria's Electoral Act.
Speaking to reporters in Calabar, Ahiakwo emphasized that Nigerian electoral laws explicitly prohibit political campaigning more than two years before general elections. He accused the Senate leadership of exercising "crass impunity" by coercing members into adopting a sole presidential candidate well ahead of the legally permitted campaign period.
"This is a clear demonstration of disregard for our electoral laws," Ahiakwo stated. "The same APC that criticized the PDP in 2015 for endorsing then-President Goodluck Jonathan as undemocratic is now engaging in similar practices, revealing a troubling double standard in Nigerian politics."
The legal expert also criticized President Tinubu's alleged comment comparing the APC to "giants with elephantiasis," suggesting that such rhetoric "makes a caricature of our elites who believe anything is possible once in power." He further argued that promoting a sole candidacy narrative is insulting to Nigeria's educated and politically aware population.
Beyond the presidential endorsement, the Senate also reportedly backed Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River State and other APC candidates for the upcoming elections.
Ahiakwo expressed concern about the wave of defections to the ruling party, warning that such political maneuvers could undermine the credibility of the 2027 elections. "Cross-carpeting may be seen as a strategy to win elections, but it cuts across all societal divides and reflects a desperate struggle for political survival," he noted.
The lawyer concluded that the APC's actions risk reinforcing public perceptions of the party as lacking transparency and engaging in unchecked political dominance, potentially damaging Nigeria's democratic processes.
Political analysts are watching closely to see if the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will respond to these early campaign activities, which appear to contravene established electoral guidelines.
