Prominent Nigerian businessman Isaac Fayose has leveled serious accusations against the ruling All Progressives Congress, claiming the party manipulated vote counts during its recently concluded presidential primary election while electoral officials looked on. His allegations, accompanied by video evidence circulating widely on social media, have reignited concerns about the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral process ahead of the 2027 general elections.
President Bola Tinubu emerged victorious in the primary election conducted across 8,809 wards spanning all 774 local government areas nationwide, reportedly securing an overwhelming 10,999,162 votes. His sole challenger, Stanley Osifo, managed only 16,503 votes in the contest. However, video clips that have gone viral appear to show counting irregularities, with officials allegedly inflating numbers in a manner that has drawn sharp criticism from observers and opposition voices alike.
In a strongly worded statement posted on his official Facebook page, Fayose expressed dismay at what he characterized as a blatant manipulation of democratic processes. He pointed specifically to video footage showing counting procedures where numbers appeared to jump dramatically from hundreds to thousands, and then to tens of thousands, all allegedly in the presence of officials from the Independent National Electoral Commission. The businessman’s concerns extend beyond the primary itself to what such irregularities might signal for the upcoming general elections.
Fayose warned that the apparent willingness of INEC to ratify results from what he described as a compromised primary election sets a troubling precedent. His comments reflect a broader anxiety among opposition figures and civil society organizations about whether Nigeria’s electoral body can maintain independence and credibility in overseeing future contests. The businessman predicted that if such practices go unchecked, citizens should not expect free, fair, or credible elections when Nigerians go to the polls in 2027.
The allegations come at a sensitive time for Nigerian democracy, with trust in electoral institutions already strained by controversies surrounding previous elections. INEC has faced mounting pressure to demonstrate its impartiality and technical competence in managing electoral processes. While the commission has not yet responded to these specific allegations, its handling of party primaries has increasingly come under scrutiny as a bellwether for its readiness to conduct transparent general elections.
As Nigeria moves c to the 2027 electoral cycle, these accusations highlight the urgent need for electoral reform and greater transparency in political party processes. Whether INEC will address these concerns and take corrective measures remains to be seen, but the controversy underscores the fragility of public confidence in democratic institutions. Opposition parties and civil society groups are likely to intensify their demands for electoral safeguards, making the integrity of the 2027 polls a defining issue for the nation’s democratic future.
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