Lawyer Justice Osai Ahiakwo slams Senate’s early endorsement of Tinubu for 2027, citing electoral malpractices and crass impunity, and warning of risks to the democratization process in Nigeria.
A lawyer and public affairs analyst, Justice Osai Ahiakwo, has condemned the Senate’s early endorsement of President Bola Tinubu, Governor Bassey Otu, and other APC candidates for the 2027 elections, describing the development as a flagrant violation of the Electoral Act.
Speaking with DAILY POST in Calabar, Ahiakwo emphasized that the law explicitly prohibits political campaigns more than two years ahead of general elections, contravening the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022.
He accused the Senate leadership of coercing members into adopting a sole presidential candidate, calling the move “crass impunity” and a clear case of electoral malpractices. Ahiakwo recalled APC’s past criticism of PDP’s 2015 endorsement of President Jonathan as undemocratic, questioning the party’s current double standard.
Ahiakwo also took aim at President Tinubu’s alleged comment likening the APC to “giants with elephantiasis,” saying, “It makes a caricature of our elites who believe anything is possible once in power.”
He decried the sole candidacy narrative as insulting to Nigeria’s educated and politically aware population, raising concerns about the democratization process in Nigeria.
The lawyer further warned that ongoing defections into the ruling party could jeopardize the credibility of the 2027 general elections, citing the risk of electoral irregularities. “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 stated.
Ahiakwo concluded that the APC’s actions risk reinforcing public perceptions of the party as lacking transparency and indulging in unchecked political dominance.
