APC dominance, electoral reforms, and contested democratic credibility

Ahead of 2027, Nigeria’s ruling APC is consolidating power through high-profile defections and by-election gains, while commentators declare smaller parties weak or ‘dying’ and raise alarms over attacks on opposition figures. At the same time, INEC is pledging transparent polls and overhauling its guidelines to align with the new Electoral Act 2026, as lawmakers defend controversial provisions like manual result transmission and activists scrutinize candidate nomination and party primaries. Local contests such as the FCT council poll and Nigeria’s stagnant corruption ranking are feeding public cynicism, with voices like Peter Obi warning that elite electioneering is overshadowing insecurity and loss of life. Together, these developments highlight a tension between formal democratic reforms and fears of shrinking political pluralism and entrenched incumbency.