Prof. Patrick Muoboghare, former Delta State Commissioner for Higher Education, has cautioned Nigerians, especially politicians, to approach the 2027 general elections with seriousness, emphasizing that the era of politics as usual is over.
Speaking in Edjekota-Ogor, a rural community in Ughelli North,
Muoboghare, a staunch People’s Democratic Party (PDP) member, stressed that the 2027 elections will focus on the quality of candidates rather than party affiliations.
He warned that if the PDP fields an ineffective presidential candidate, the party will fail to make an impact.
Muoboghare, who notably resisted joining Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori in defecting to the All Progressives Congress (APC), urged all political parties to present their strongest candidates.
He pointed to the 2023 elections, where voters supported individuals like Peter Obi of the Labour Party based on personal appeal rather than party loyalty.
“In 2027, it will be even more evident that Nigerians vote for candidates, not parties. If my party, the PDP, fields a weak candidate, they will go nowhere,” he stated.
He also highlighted the role of technology in ensuring electoral integrity, noting that the Bi-Modal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) has made ballot box snatching obsolete.
“Politicians must connect with the people and canvass for votes, not rely on rigging,” he advised.
Commenting on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, Muoboghare described him as Nigeria’s most courageous leader, taking bold steps in his first term that others might delay until a second term.
He noted that Tinubu inherited a struggling economy and fulfilled a campaign promise to remove the fuel subsidy, a move supported by major parties during the 2023 campaigns.
“Today, most governors, including those in Delta State, are working with Tinubu. States are no longer borrowing but paying off debts,” he said, crediting Tinubu’s policies for stabilizing state finances.
Muoboghare’s remarks underscore a shifting political landscape as Nigeria prepares for a pivotal 2027 election season.
