Akpabio: Nigeria’s Elections Stronger and More Credible Since PDP Left Power

The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has said that Nigeria’s electoral process has recorded significant improvement since the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) left power in 2015.

Akpabio stated this on Wednesday during plenary as the Senate debated a bill to repeal the Electoral Act 2022 and introduce a new Electoral Bill 2025 aimed at strengthening transparency and accountability in future elections.

Reflecting on Nigeria’s democratic evolution, Akpabio said elections conducted under the PDP were marred by irregularities and manipulation, adding that subsequent reforms have led to “remarkable progress” in the conduct of polls.

“You will agree with me that since the PDP left, elections have improved tremendously in this country,” Akpabio said. “I recall that in 2007, when I was elected governor, the then President, the late Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, openly admitted that the election that brought him to power was flawed and riddled with inconsistencies.”

Akpabio, who served as Governor of Akwa Ibom State (2007–2015) under the PDP before later joining the All Progressives Congress (APC), said subsequent governments have worked to “block the holes” that enabled electoral malpractice in the past.

He acknowledged that while challenges remain, Nigeria’s electoral integrity has been strengthened through legal reforms and the use of technology.

The Senate President also commented on the controversy surrounding the interpretation of “two-thirds of the states and the FCT” in the 2023 presidential election, describing the debate as needless.

“Some argued that winning the FCT alone was enough to become president,” Akpabio said. “That debate wasted valuable time until the Supreme Court clarified the issue.”

He emphasised that the Electoral Bill 2025 seeks to further consolidate Nigeria’s democracy by addressing existing loopholes and improving credibility in the system.

“We must find a way to block these gaps to build a stronger and more credible electoral system,” he concluded.

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