We Must Go Beyond Hope, Work Toward Credible Elections In 2027, Says Clement Nwankwo
Clement Nwankwo, Executive Director of the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC), has called on Nigerians and electoral stakeholders to take deliberate and urgent steps toward ensuring credible general elections in 2027.
Speaking at the launch of the “Credibility Threshold for the 2027 Nigeria General Election” in Abuja, Nwankwo said reliance on hope without action would not deliver transparent or accountable elections.
He expressed concern over the state of Nigeria’s electoral integrity following the 2023 general elections, citing widespread lapses ranging from logistical failures to procedural inconsistencies in result collation.
According to him, the issues witnessed during the previous election cycle underline the need for comprehensive electoral reform.
“We must go beyond hope,” Nwankwo stated. “Hope alone cannot deliver credible elections. There must be a unified effort to hold institutions such as INEC, political parties, and security agencies accountable to democratic standards.”
He criticised the internal workings of political parties in Nigeria, describing them as largely undemocratic.
Nwankwo pointed to the manipulation of party primaries, the dominance of money politics, and the concentration of decision-making power in the hands of a few individuals as threats to democratic development.
“There is no democracy when party primaries are manipulated. When party structures are hijacked and decisions are taken behind closed doors, public trust erodes,” he said.
Nwankwo also unveiled a new civil society-led initiative aimed at improving electoral credibility. The programme, titled “Credibility Threshold,” is designed to establish measurable standards for assessing election conduct and performance of key institutions.
It will focus on monitoring compliance, enhancing transparency, and promoting accountability ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He urged civil society organisations, the media, and citizens to become active participants in the democratic process and to advocate for meaningful reforms.
Nwankwo also called on the National Assembly to expedite amendments to the Electoral Act, particularly in areas concerning electronic transmission of results, campaign finance regulation, and INEC’s operational autonomy.
“2027 is not far away. The groundwork for credible elections must begin now. Every Nigerian has a role to play to ensure that future elections reflect the true will of the people,” he said.
The event was attended by representatives from civil society, the diplomatic corps, and development partners, who all echoed the call for electoral integrity and institutional accountability in the lead-up to the 2027 elections.
