A political activist, Comrade Gbenga Soloki, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to address what he described as widespread manipulation of party primary elections across Nigeria.
In an open letter to the President, Soloki alleged that many political parties have abandoned credible internal democratic processes, accusing some party leaders and political actors of preparing election results before delegates even cast their votes.
He claimed that delegates who travel from different parts of the country to participate in party primaries are frequently confronted with outcomes that do not reflect the actual voting process, alleging that preferred candidates are often imposed through fabricated figures.
According to the activist, the growing practice of manipulating primary elections has become a systemic issue threatening the credibility of Nigeria’s democratic system and weakening public trust in political participation.
Soloki warned that many Nigerians, especially young people and grassroots party members, are gradually losing confidence in the electoral process because they believe outcomes are predetermined.
He further argued that candidates who emerge through questionable primary processes often struggle to gain legitimacy and public support during general elections, while such practices also contribute to poor governance and lack of accountability.
Addressing the President directly, Soloki said Tinubu’s long political experience places him in a strong position to champion reforms capable of restoring credibility to party primaries and strengthening democratic institutions.
The activist urged the President to support transparent and verifiable primary elections, investigate cases of alleged manipulation, and promote reforms that would protect delegates’ votes and rebuild confidence in internal party democracy.
He stressed that democracy can only thrive when political parties themselves uphold fairness, transparency, and respect for the will of party members.
