Cross River State chairman for Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), and former chairman of Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Mr Goddie Akpama, has called on political parties across the country to prioritise the presentation of credible candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Akpama made the call while answering questions from LEADERSHIP Weekend in Calabar.
He said that the future of Nigeria’s democracy depends on the quality of individuals put forward for elective positions.
He stressed that parties must move away from rewarding loyalty with tickets urging leadership of political parties to focus on competence, character and the track records of candidates.
“The time has come for political parties to stop recycling names and to begin to present people who have the capacity to serve the people.
“If we continue to field candidates who lack integrity and vision, we will keep getting the same cycle of poor governance,” Akpama said.
The NDC chairman also advocated for free, fair and credible elections in 2027, urging the electoral umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to remain neutral and impartial.
According to him, an unbiased electoral umpire is critical to ensuring that the will of the people prevails at the polls.
“We want an electoral process where every vote counts and where no party enjoys undue advantage.
“INEC must stand firm as an independent institution so that the outcome of the elections reflects the true choice of Nigerians,” Akpama stated.
He warned that failure to guarantee a level playing field would only deepen public distrust in the electoral system and open the door for incompetent individuals to assume positions of authority.
“When elections are compromised, it is the people who suffer because those who emerge are not accountable,” he said.
