2027 Polls: Expert Warns Against Post-Election Crisis, Proposes National Commission | Sahara Reporters

The professor said the proposed initiative would accommodate supporters of different political parties.

An expert, Prof Udenta Udenta, a pro-democracy activist and founding National Secretary of the Alliance for Democracy (AD), has proposed the establishment of a sovereign commission for democratic sustainability and national stability to prevent post-election crises and address political tensions ahead of the 2027 general election.

Udenta said Nigeria must prioritise national unity and democratic stability over individual political ambitions, warning that the country’s future should not depend on who emerges president.

He stressed that the challenge facing Nigeria went beyond the outcome of the 2027 presidential election, arguing that the country needed a framework to sustain democratic stability regardless of which candidate wins.

The professor said the proposed initiative would accommodate supporters of different political parties.

According to him, elections alone cannot guarantee national unity or build public trust, making it necessary for political leaders to establish mechanisms for managing tensions after the announcement of results.

“Elections cannot, by themselves, build trust or guarantee stability,” he said, adding that the critical question was “what becomes of the nation the day after”.

He added, “Nigeria’s survival must matter more than the fortunes of any politician,” stressing that the country’s continued existence was more important than the political ambitions of individuals.

The proposed commission would comprise the sitting president, if seeking re-election, the president-elect, all certified presidential candidates, national leaders and chairmen of political parties, representatives of organised labour, the Academic Staff Union of Universities, the Nigerian Union of Journalists and civil society organisations.
Udenta said the commission would serve as a practical platform for dialogue and democratic cooperation rather than another committee whose recommendations would be ignored.

He urged political parties and their presidential candidates to make seven pre-election commitments, including an agreement to participate in the commission regardless of the outcome of the election.

He maintained that membership should be determined by a candidate’s status as a presidential candidate, rather than political affiliation or electoral victory.

Among the proposals is a commitment by the winner of the presidential election to convene the commission after the polls and establish a time-bound, 18-month Government of National Unity based on competence.

The initiative would also pursue reforms aimed at reducing the winner-takes-all nature of presidential politics and encouraging broader participation in governance.

Other proposals include legislation to provide audited public funding for eligible political parties, proportional executive representation, a national dialogue on an Afrocentric democratic model and the restoration of cabinet-level Special Advisers for Inter-Party Matters and Civil Society Relations.

On political party financing, Udenta cited Germany, Sweden, South Africa, Kenya, Malawi and Tanzania as countries with public subsidy arrangements for political parties.

He argued that transparent public funding, tied to verified electoral thresholds, could reduce political parties’ dependence on wealthy individuals and improve their capacity to operate independently.

He, however, said such funding must be subject to disclosure requirements, independent audits and penalties for abuse to prevent the ruling party from using public resources to influence political competition.
The professor also proposed a timeline for the commission’s activities, urging all presidential candidates to jointly call for calm and encourage the lawful resolution of disputes within 72 hours of the declaration of election results.

He proposed that the commission hold its first formal meeting within 30 days and publish substantive recommendations within 100 days, with the president expected to provide a public response.

Udenta warned that national stability should not be confused with the suppression of dissent, arguing that a functional democracy must protect freedom of expression, independent journalism, judicial independence and peaceful protests.
“A stable country is not one in which citizens are afraid to speak,” he said.

He added that opposition parties must retain the freedom to criticise the government, noting that citizens who voted for an unsuccessful candidate should not be treated as less deserving members of the Nigerian state.

“A voter who supported the losing candidate does not become less Nigerian when the results are announced,” he said.

Beyond electoral reforms, Udenta called for stronger federating units and subnational institutions to reduce the concentration of power and resources at the centre.

He argued that excessive centralisation had made control of the Federal Government an all-or-nothing political contest, thereby increasing tensions surrounding presidential elections.

The professor also advocated a political culture driven by ideas and policy alternatives rather than ethnic affiliations and entrenched political interests.
He said he had begun consultations with citizens across civil society, academia and the political spectrum to advance the proposal, while urging Nigerians to hold political aspirants accountable before they assume office.
Reflecting on his political experience, Udenta said his generation had witnessed military rule, democratic transitions and the rise and decline of political parties.
He argued that the experiences reinforced the need to build institutions capable of outlasting individual political leaders.
“We have learned that no individual is indispensable. Nigeria is,” he said.
He urged political leaders to work towards a system in which winning an election brings responsibility, losing does not amount to political extinction and every citizen remains part of the country.

Udenta maintained that political competition was essential to democracy but should not undermine national institutions or threaten Nigeria’s unity.

He challenged political leaders to decide whether they would help build a democracy that belongs to the entire country or preserve a system in which elections deepen divisions.

He said Nigeria’s long-term stability would depend on the collective commitment of political leaders and citizens to the national interest.