Utomi alleges Electoral Act manipulation, says democracy at risk ahead 2027

…as Movement recruits vote marshals to monitor polling units during elections

Pat Utomi, Professor of Political Economy, has raised serious concerns over what he described as alleged manipulations of the Electoral Act ahead of the 2027 General Elections, warning that Nigeria’s democracy could be in danger if urgent steps were not taken to safeguard the electoral process.

Speaking at a media conference in Lagos, on Sunday, the political economist and leader of the Movement for Credible Elections (MCE) said recent developments surrounding the Electoral Act and the conduct of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) suggest a growing desperation among those in power.

Utomi, who addressed journalists at the Centre for Values in Leadership (CVL), Victoria Island, Lagos, said the group is worried that actions being taken ahead of the 2027 elections could undermine public confidence in the electoral system and weaken the legitimacy of the State.

According to him, voter participation in recent elections has fallen sharply, with turnout reportedly dropping below 10 per cent of registered voters in some polls.

He warned that continued erosion of confidence in the ballot could push citizens toward alternative and potentially dangerous forms of political expression.

The MCE leader said civil society groups would mobilise to resist any attempt to compromise the electoral process and would challenge perceived abuses both in the court of public opinion and through legal channels.

Utomi outlined a series of initiatives the group plans to implement to promote credible elections.

These include establishing independent result verification platforms similar to the INEC Result Viewing portal (IReV), where party agents would upload photographed copies of Form EC8A immediately after results are signed at polling units.

He also disclosed plans to recruit and train “vote marshals,” drawn largely from retired Military and Police personnel, who would be deployed to polling stations across the Country to help safeguard the voting process.

In addition, the group intends to embark on nationwide voter education and mobilisation campaigns aimed at addressing voter apathy and encouraging citizens to participate actively in elections while protecting their votes.

Utomi further said MCE would work with civil society organisations, religious bodies, academics and the media to demand accountability from political actors and expose what he described as attempts to manipulate electoral rules for political advantage.

The movement also expressed concern over what it sees as increasing interference by the Electoral Commission in the internal affairs of political parties, arguing that such actions could violate the Constitutional rights of association and political participation.

Utomi called for a review of what he described as “doctored” amendments to the Electoral Act and urged the leadership of INEC to restore transparency and public trust in the electoral process.

He also appealed to elder statesmen, traditional rulers and religious leaders to speak out in defence of democratic norms and help prevent a deterioration of Nigeria’s political environment.

Warning against a repeat of the political tensions experienced during the military era, Utomi urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and committed to defending democratic values through lawful and non-violent means.

“The people must stand up now to save the future for their children,” he said.