Nigeria's Political Competition Is Weakening As Opined By APGA National Chairman

Written By Nduka Anyanwu 

AS NIGERIA APPROACHES A CRITICAL PRE-ELECTION PERIOD, CONCERNS OVER THE INTEGRITY OF OUR DEMOCRATIC PROCESSES INTENSIFY.

In a recent view, APGA National Chairman, Barrister Sly Ezeokenwa, has raised alarms over the declining state of political competition in Nigeria. He emphasized that the weakening of our democratic system is not merely due to internal party disputes but is rooted in a deeper institutional crisis threatening the very foundations of credible political contestation.

According to the view, Nigeria is witnessing a disturbing pattern of intra-party crises across various political entities. These include leadership disputes within the African Democratic Congress (ADC), factional tensions in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and internal cohesion challenges within the Labour Party — even in the ruling party, which has yet to face a major internal upheaval. The report asserts that these are not isolated incidents but symptoms of a broader institutional failure.

Barrister Ezeokenwa highlighted that “political coordination in Nigeria consistently outpaces the institutional frameworks required to sustain it.” He noted that when the architecture of political competition becomes unstable, opaque, or overly personalized, the quality of democratic choice diminishes significantly, undermining public trust and confidence in the electoral process.

The report underscores the vital role of key democratic institutions — including the Electoral Commission, the judiciary, and legislative bodies — in fostering a fair, transparent, and competitive political environment. It warns that when these institutions are WEAK, COMPROMISED, OR LACK INDEPENDENCE, Nigeria’s democracy is placed at grave risk.

Concluding his remarks, Barrister Sly Ezeokenwa emphasized that strengthening Nigeria’s institutional foundations is not a partisan matter but a constitutional and democratic necessity. He called on all stakeholders to prioritize reforms that will bolster institutional integrity, ensure fairness in political contests, and restore citizens’ confidence in the democratic process.

Nigeria’s democracy depends on our collective resolve to reinforce its structural pillars. As APGA, we remain committed to advocating for credible political competition that leads to meaningful progress and development for all citizens.