By Paul Joseph
The African Democratic Congress Presidential Campaign Council (ADC-PCC) has predicted President Bola Tinubu’s defeat in the 2027 presidential election, alleging that intimidation, political violence and the manipulation of democratic institutions would not prevent Nigerians from determining the country’s political future.
The council accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of allegedly deploying security agencies and manipulating judicial processes to weaken opposition parties and secure another term in office.
The ADC-PCC Director of Media and Publicity, Kola Ologbondiyan, made the allegations on Sunday while reacting to what he described as increasing attacks on opposition members and supporters across the country.
Ologbondiyan condemned the reported killing of several members of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in Delta State, allegedly during an attack by suspected APC thugs at the party’s campaign venue.
He said the incident was part of a disturbing pattern of alleged political violence targeting opposition parties, including the ADC, NDC and Allied Peoples Movement (APM), in Kaduna, Kogi, Katsina, Kebbi and Sokoto states.
Describing the alleged attacks as a threat to democratic freedoms, Ologbondiyan said: “This is not politics. This is state-sponsored terror against democracy.”
The ADC-PCC also questioned the preparedness and neutrality of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), alleging that the commission’s voter register database had been compromised and that individuals sympathetic to the APC had been appointed to sensitive positions.
It further accused security agencies of being used to harass, arrest and intimidate opposition members, raising concerns about the neutrality of state institutions ahead of the 2027 general election.
Ologbondiyan also alleged that a serving director of a security agency was involved in the APC Presidential Campaign Council as a co-Director of National Security and Intelligence.
He said the alleged involvement raised questions about compliance with the law establishing the agency and the impartiality of public institutions during the election period.
According to the ADC-PCC, the alleged use of government institutions against political opponents suggested that the administration was more focused on retaining power than ensuring a credible electoral contest.
“One thing is now very clear to all Nigerians: Tinubu is not preparing for an election. He is preparing for a coronation,” Ologbondiyan said.
The council maintained that alleged judicial and electoral manipulation would not guarantee President Tinubu’s re-election. It warned against attempts to determine the outcome of the 2027 election through compromised court decisions or electoral malpractice.
It urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and defend their votes, constitutional freedoms and democratic rights as preparations for the election gather momentum.
The ADC-PCC also called on the international community, civil society organisations, religious leaders and traditional institutions to monitor what it described as a deteriorating political and security situation in the country.
It warned that failure to speak out against political violence could encourage further attacks and weaken democratic institutions.
The council appealed to security agencies to remain politically neutral, stressing that their loyalty should be to the Nigerian Constitution and the citizens rather than to any political party or individual.
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