A House of Representatives aspirant for Aboh Mbaise/Ngor Okpala Federal Constituency in Imo State, Mazi Nnamdi Iroegbu, has alleged that Nigeria’s electoral umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has been compromised by political interference, warning that such developments pose a grave threat to the country’s democratic future.
Mazi Iroegbu, a veteran broadcaster and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), expressed deep concern over what he described as a systematic effort to weaken opposition parties and tilt Nigeria towards a one-party state.
He urged Nigerians across political divides not to succumb to intimidation or abuse of state institutions by those in power.
In a statement shared on social media, the PDP aspirant said recent political trends in the country are “disturbing” and indicative of a broader agenda to shrink the democratic space.
It could be recalled that the INEC recently withdrew the recognition of David Mark-led ADC, a leading political party rivaling PDP and Labour Party.
“All patriotic citizens of this country, irrespective of party affiliation, know now that the recent political trend is quite disturbing,” Mazi Iroegbu said, noting that the PDP, in particular, is being “fractured, fragmented and destabilized from within.”
According to him, the internal crises within opposition parties go beyond routine political disagreements and reflect a deliberate attempt to weaken credible alternatives ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“At this rate, there is an impending fear that all credible opposition parties may be incapacitated to effectively organize or legitimately contest the 2027 elections,” he warned.
“If this doesn’t trouble you, then you should doubt your Nigerian citizenship,” he added.
Mazi Iroegbu reiterated that INEC must remain neutral, but lamented that recent developments suggest otherwise.
“In all my public engagements, I have stressed that INEC should remain an unbiased umpire. However, recent events in the country’s electoral atmosphere show a deviation from this principle, with signs of undue partisanship and disregard for due process,” he stated.
He emphasized that the issues at stake go beyond partisan politics, describing them as fundamental to Nigeria’s democratic survival. He warned that once institutions responsible for safeguarding democracy begin to exhibit bias, public trust erodes and the system becomes vulnerable to collapse.
Drawing parallels with countries such as Sudan, South Sudan, Haiti, Somalia, and Congo, Iroegbu noted that political instability often stems from weakened institutions and disregard for the rule of law.
“The history of political instability across the world shows that breakdown of trust in institutions leads to disastrous consequences. Nigeria must guard against such trends,” he cautioned.
The aspirant also called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to uphold his constitutional responsibility of protecting democratic institutions and ensuring a level playing field for all political actors.
“It is a constitutional duty for the President to maintain democratic institutions and ensure fairness. That duty cannot be sacrificed,” he said, while questioning political rhetoric that appears to undermine due process.
“This is a moment that calls for unity across political, ethnic, and regional lines. We must insist on fairness, the rule of law, and a system where the will of the people prevails,” he said.
