2027: Judiciary, INEC may truncate Nigeria’s democracy – APC Chieftain, Vatsa

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and former Niger State Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Jonathan Vatsa, has warned that Nigeria risks sliding into anarchy ahead of the 2027 general elections, blaming what he described as the disturbing role of the judiciary and the body language of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

Speaking with journalists in Minna on Sunday after a thanksgiving service to mark his 64th birthday, Vatsa said the country’s hard-earned democracy could be endangered if the two institutions fail to act impartially.

He also predicted an impending explosion within the ruling party, saying the crisis brewing in the APC would surpass those in all opposition parties combined.

According to him, the failure of the party to announce the outcome of its primary elections nearly two months after they were conducted is evidence that the APC is sitting on a time bomb.

“The day the results are released will mark the beginning of the mother of all crises in the APC,” he declared.

Vatsa described the crises in opposition parties as “sponsored”, insisting that the APC’s troubles are self-inflicted and more threatening.

He warned that both the judiciary and INEC should be held responsible if the country descends into political turmoil ahead of 2027.

“Their actions and body language are capable of throwing the country into anarchy and truncating democracy,” he said.

The former APC publicity secretary in Niger State accused the party of abandoning internal democracy during its recent primaries, alleging that about 80 per cent of candidates in the state emerged through a “Government House-arranged consensus.”

He described the process as “the biggest political deceit since 1999,” arguing that it amounted to the imposition of candidates and would eventually backfire.

Questioning the fairness of allowing some politicians to seek a sixth term while others pursuing a second term were forced to step down, Vatsa warned that the perceived injustice could fuel anti-party activities.

“This level of injustice is enough to trigger rebellion within the party. People are keeping quiet because they want food on their tables, but the anger is there,” he said.

The former APC publicity secretary maintained that no political party is free from crisis, but insisted that the APC’s internal contradictions would soon explode.

Recalling his role in the formation of the party, Vatsa further explained that founding members had been sidelined by “tenants” who took over the structure after the APC came to power.

“We pushed the broken-down vehicle called APC into motion in 2015, but today those who joined later are occupying the house. I am one of the landlords and I cannot abandon my house for tenants,” he added.