An advocacy group, the Movement for Credible Elections (MCE) has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of working with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and elements of the judiciary to undermine opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The group made the allegation at a press conference held on Thursday in Victoria Island, Lagos.
MCE said it was concerned about what it described as an emerging alliance aimed at excluding opposition parties and candidates from the ballot.
This comes amid heightened tensions following INEC’s derecognition of the ADC leadership linked to Senator David Mark and former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola.
In its reaction, the group criticised INEC’s decision to withdraw recognition of the ADC leadership, describing it as a deliberate move to weaken the opposition.
“INEC as presently constituted has shown that it is anything but Independent. It is but a gang of Electoral Bandits, whose sole mandate is to make Bola Ahmed Tinubu the sole Presidential Contestant in the 2027 elections,” it stated.
MCE further alleged that recent developments involving the Labour Party (LP) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) were part of a broader plan to consolidate power ahead of the elections.
“We reject INECs Electoral Banditry on the opposition and multi-party democracy in Nigeria!” the group further noted.
It added, “We reject the manipulation of INEC and the Judiciary by the Tinubu Administration. We call all well-meaning Nigerians to fight and resist this plot to entrench one man rule in Nigeria!”
The group also demanded the resignation of the INEC chairman and called for comprehensive electoral reforms.
“We demand for a comprehensive Electoral Reform which will guarantee free, fair and credible elections in 2027!” it stated.
MCE announced plans to organise zonal and national rallies across the country in April, aimed at mobilising resistance against what it described as “growing despotism and electoral conspiracy.”
According to the group, the schedule includes: North-East rally in Gombe on April 9; North-West rally in Sokoto or Kano on April 13; North-Central rally in Jos on April 15; and South-South rally in Calabar or Warri on April 17.
It also includes: South-East rally in Enugu or Anambra on April 21; South-West rally in Ibadan or Lagos on April 24; and a national rally in Abuja on April 27.
