BREAKING: Characteristics Of State Capture Are Obvious But Action Of Govt Toward ADC Made It Elaborate — Okonkwo

In a recent statement via his official X account, Kenneth Okonkwo, a prominent member of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has accused Nigeria’s ruling party of engaging in actions that amount to state capture, warning that such practices threaten the country’s democratic system.

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“The characteristics of state capture are very obvious to see, but the actions of the government towards the holding of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) convention made it more elaborate. It started, as always, with the misuse of judicial authority, legal manoeuvrings, and institutional capture of relevant agencies that organise elections in Nigeria,” he wrote.

‎In his post, Oknokwo described state capture as a deep form of corruption where powerful private interests influence government decisions, laws, and institutions for their own benefit, he argued that this situation is now evident in Nigeria, claiming that the All Progressives Congress (APC) has taken steps that fit this pattern.

‎Okonkwo stated that recent political events, especially those surrounding the ADC convention, reflect a broader attempt to control opposition activities and noted that the use of legal tactics and the involvement of key institutions raise concerns about fairness in the political process.

‎According to him, such actions go beyond normal political competition and point to a more coordinated effort to dominate the system, he further explained that institutions responsible for overseeing elections and enforcing laws should remain neutral.

‎However, he alleged that these bodies are being influenced in ways that undermine their independence and stressed that when institutions lose neutrality, it weakens democracy and reduces public confidence in governance.