Soloki Writes Tinubu, Warns Fake Party Primaries Threaten Nigeria’s Democracy

A political activist, Comrade Gbenga Soloki, has written an open letter to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, warning that the growing trend of manipulated party primary elections is eroding Nigeria’s democracy and undermining public trust in the electoral process.

In the letter addressed to the President at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Soloki described the conduct of party primaries across the country as increasingly fraudulent, alleging that many results announced by political parties are often predetermined before delegates cast their votes.

According to him, figures presented after primaries are frequently “manufactured in hotel rooms, private residences, and party secretariats,” while genuine votes and delegates’ decisions are ignored in favour of candidates backed by political power brokers.

He warned that the practice has become systemic within the nation’s political structure, replacing internal democracy with manipulation, intimidation, and transactional politics.

Soloki argued that the development is discouraging political participation, especially among young Nigerians and party loyalists who now believe electoral outcomes are predetermined regardless of the voting process.

“Democracy where votes no longer count breeds apathy, anger, and eventual instability,” he stated.

The activist further noted that candidates who emerge through allegedly manipulated primaries often lack legitimacy and grassroots support, making it difficult for them to inspire confidence during general elections.

He also warned that the trend could worsen governance in the country, stressing that leaders produced through questionable processes are less likely to remain accountable to the electorate.

Appealing directly to President Tinubu, Soloki said the Nigerian leader understands party politics and democratic structures better than many others, given his long political history and experience in grassroots mobilisation.

He urged the President to champion transparent and verifiable party primary elections across political parties, support reforms that protect delegates’ votes, and encourage investigations into primaries where there are allegations of fabricated results.

Soloki added that democracy must begin within political parties before it can thrive at the national level, warning that continued manipulation of internal party processes could further damage confidence in Nigeria’s democratic institutions.

He concluded by urging the President to seize the moment to strengthen democratic institutions and ensure that the will of party members and voters is respected.

Read full letter here…

Open Letter to His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR
President, Federal Republic of Nigeria
Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja

Subject: Fake Primary Results Are Destroying Nigeria’s Democracy from Within

Your Excellency,

I write not merely as a concerned citizen, but as a Nigerian troubled by the growing assault on internal democracy within our political parties — an assault that threatens the very foundation of the democratic system upon which our nation stands.

Across Nigeria today, what many political parties parade as “primary election results” are, in truth, manufactured figures — concocted in hotel rooms, private residences, and party secretariats long before delegates cast a single vote. Party faithful who travel long distances, queue under the sun, and participate in good faith are routinely presented with outcomes that bear no resemblance to the realities on the ground.

This dangerous culture is no longer isolated. It has become systemic. From one region to another, genuine votes are being discarded, delegates ignored, and predetermined candidates imposed through falsified figures designed to satisfy a handful of political power brokers. Democracy within the parties is steadily being replaced by manipulation, intimidation, and transactional politics.

The consequences are grave.

First, it destroys public trust. Millions of young Nigerians and ordinary party members are becoming convinced that participation is meaningless because outcomes are predetermined. A democracy where votes no longer count breeds apathy, anger, and eventual instability.

Second, it weakens political parties themselves. Candidates produced through fraudulent primaries emerge without legitimacy, grassroots support, or moral authority. Such candidates often struggle to inspire voters during general elections because the people know they were never truly chosen.

Third, and most dangerously, it entrenches poor governance. Leaders who emerge through manipulated processes rarely feel accountable to the people. When politicians do not need the voters to win, they eventually stop listening to the voters altogether.

Mr. President, few Nigerians understand the mechanics of party politics better than you do. Your political journey was built on organization, strategy, and grassroots mobilization. You understand that no democracy can thrive when internal party processes become a mere ritual designed to legitimize predetermined outcomes.

Nigeria stands at a critical moment. Citizens are already questioning the credibility of democratic institutions. If political parties — the vehicles through which democracy operates — can no longer conduct transparent and credible primaries, then the future of our electoral system itself is in danger.

I therefore respectfully urge you to:

Champion transparent, verifiable, and credible party primary elections across all political parties.
Encourage party leadership to investigate and nullify primaries where there is overwhelming evidence of manipulation and fabricated results.
Support stronger electoral and party reforms that protect the sanctity of delegates’ votes and restore confidence in internal democracy.
Send a clear message that democracy must begin within the political parties before it can flourish nationally.

Your Excellency, history often remembers leaders not only for the elections they won, but for the institutions they strengthened. This is one of those defining moments.

Nigeria cannot continue to build democracy on fabricated numbers and imposed outcomes. A nation survives when the will of the people is respected, when votes genuinely count, and when political participation has meaning.

Anything less is a slow erosion of democracy itself.

Yours sincerely,

Comrade Gbenga Soloki