The Executive Director of the Centre Against Injustice and Domestic Violence, Gbenga Soloki, has raised the alarm over alleged large-scale manipulation of party primary elections across Nigeria, warning that the trend could undermine the country’s democratic stability.
Soloki, in an open letter addressed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, accused political parties of routinely producing predetermined outcomes that do not reflect the true will of delegates.
He alleged that results of many primaries were often fabricated in private locations, including hotels and residences, even before voting processes were concluded.
According to the civil society advocate, party members who participate in primaries in good faith are frequently confronted with outcomes that contradict the actual voting exercise.
“What many political parties parade as primary election results are, in truth, manufactured figures designed to favour preferred candidates,” he said.
Soloki described the practice as systemic, cutting across regions and political parties, with influential actors allegedly imposing candidates while ignoring delegates’ votes.
He warned that the development was fast eroding public confidence in Nigeria’s democratic process, particularly among young people, many of whom he said now feel that political participation no longer counts.
The CAIDOV director further noted that the trend weakens political parties by producing candidates who lack grassroots legitimacy and moral authority, adding that such individuals often struggle to gain widespread support during general elections.
He also linked the alleged manipulation to poor governance, arguing that leaders who emerge through flawed processes are less likely to be accountable to the electorate.
“A democracy where votes do not count breeds apathy, anger, and potential instability,” he added.
Soloki called on the President to take urgent and decisive action by promoting transparency and credibility in party primaries, urging the investigation and possible nullification of exercises where there is strong evidence of manipulation.
He also advocated broader electoral reforms to safeguard internal party democracy, stressing that restoring integrity to the process is critical to rebuilding public trust.
According to him, Nigeria’s democratic future depends largely on ensuring that political parties conduct credible primaries that truly reflect the choices of their members.
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