Former presidential aspirant and YesWeFit Movement convener, Dr. Thomas-Wilson Ikubese, has urged President Bola Tinubu to shift focus from early politicking to effective governance ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking on Channels TV’s Good Morning Show during a segment titled “2027 Election: Justice, Corruption & Democratic Future,” Ikubese criticized the growing wave of political defections and warned that the obsession with electoral positioning risks undermining Nigeria’s democratic future.
On Political Defections and Ideological Vagueness
Ikubese attributed the recent flurry of defections to electoral self-interest. “Politicians are switching parties in anticipation of 2027,” he said. “The goal is to retain power by controlling more states, which increases electoral advantage, especially at the presidential level.”
He questioned the ideological basis of Nigeria’s dominant parties, the APC and PDP: “Ask yourself—what’s the difference between them? There’s no clear ideological distinction.”
Governance Should Trump Politics
Citing Abia State Governor Alex Otti as an example, Ikubese emphasized that performance in public office depends on vision and integrity, not party label. “Otti is delivering because he has a roadmap grounded in transparency and leadership, not because of party affiliation,” he said.
One-Party State Concerns Are Misplaced
On fears of Nigeria sliding into a one-party system, Ikubese dismissed such anxieties: “How many active political parties are there in Rwanda or Burkina Faso? What matters is not the number of parties, but the quality of governance.”
Radical Reforms for a Broken System
To redirect Nigeria’s political trajectory, Ikubese proposed a suite of reforms:
- Single, six-year non-renewable term for elected officials to curb re-election desperation.
- Special Anti-Corruption Court to conclude cases within six months, with life imprisonment (without fine) for convicted officials.
- Monthly public disclosure of government income and spending, modeled after the EFCC’s financial transparency.
- Drastically reduced nomination fees to encourage capable, non-wealthy candidates.
“How do you justify a ₦100 million nomination fee? That’s not public service—it’s an investment that many will aim to recover while in office,” he noted.
Making Political Office Unattractive to Thieves
Ikubese argued that creating unattractive conditions for opportunistic politicians is key to reform. “Only honest citizens—retired teachers, headmasters—will step up when the system no longer rewards looters.”
He concluded by warning against unrealistic expectations from politicians with no intention or capacity to deliver: “We’re putting the wrong people in office and hoping for miracles. It’s like expecting a man to get pregnant—it’s biologically impossible.”
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