A University Don Prof. Eugene Nweke has argued that Party supremacy is no longer the end game but rather the candidates, credibility and choice are becoming the major issues adding that the era when voters could be easily predicted solely on the basis of their political party affiliations was gradually giving way to a more discerning electorate capable of independently evaluating candidates.

Prof. Nweke, a senior lecturer at Ebonyi State University (EBSU), Abakaliki spoke with journalists in Abakaliki on Monday while assessing emerging political developments ahead of the 2027 general elections, said the growing trend of citizens supporting candidates across party lines reflected an evolution in Nigeria’s political culture.

Nweke, said Nigerian voters are increasingly moving beyond blind party loyalty and are now making political choices based on the credibility, integrity and perceived capacity of individual candidates insisting that party supremacy is no longer the end game but candidates, credibility and choice are becoming the major issues.

“The citizens have become wiser. The electorate can now cast their votes across party lines where they find a candidate they consider more credible. People are gradually outgrowing blind partisanship and are looking for alternatives, credibility, integrity and capacity,” Nweke said.

He said the development should serve as a wake-up call to politicians and political parties to place greater emphasis on winning the confidence and trust of the people rather than relying exclusively on party structures and traditional political loyalties.

Nweke explained that it was not unusual for a citizen who did not belong to a political party to identify with or support a particular candidate, stressing that such freedom of political association and choice was consistent with democratic principles.

“There is a difference between being a party member and being a citizen who has an interest in a candidate. You may not belong to a political party, but you can support candidate A, candidate B or candidate C. That is democratic, and it is part of the right of choice,” he said.

The university lecturer also spoke on the growing debate over zoning, power rotation and power sharing, describing zoning as a political strategy rather than a constitutional or legal requirement.

He said political parties were at liberty to develop narratives and strategies capable of attracting voters, noting that one party could promote zoning while another could build its campaign around competence, integrity, capacity and service delivery.

“Zoning is purely a political mechanism. Rotation is purely a political mechanism. It is not stated as a law in the Constitution or in the laws of the state.

“Every political party has the prerogative to develop a strategy and promote any narrative that can enable it to win an election. Somebody can promote competence, integrity and service delivery, while another person can promote zoning as an important strategy.

“The ultimate question should be: what value does politics bring to the citizens? Of what benefit is ‘my turn’ when the people do not enjoy the dividends of democracy?,” he said.

Nweke argued that the origin of a political leader should not be the overriding consideration in assessing political leadership, insisting that the impact of governance on the lives of citizens was more important.

“I may be a governor from my local government and poverty may still remain high there. That does not necessarily solve the problem because of where I come from.

“On the other hand, a governor from another place may improve the lives of people generally and add value to the entire state. What we should consider in politics, governance and administration is the value created in the system and the benefits that citizens can point to as dividends of democracy,” the university don pointed out.

He added that the use of zoning as a political arrangement could not be described as illegal simply because it was not expressly contained in the Constitution, noting that political conventions and party strategies remained legitimate instruments of electoral competition.

Nweke, however, said no political strategy should overshadow the need for good governance, accountability and improved welfare for citizens.

On recent incidents of political violence, including attacks in which journalists were reportedly affected, the lecturer condemned violence in its entirety and urged political leaders, candidates, supporters and security agencies to take decisive steps to prevent its escalation.

“Political violence is unacceptable. In a multi-party democracy, every person has the right to vote, associate and support any candidate of his or her choice. Any attempt to suppress that right through violence should not be accepted,” he said.

He warned that unchecked political violence could snowball into a wider security crisis with grave consequences for communities and the state.

“The political parties, government, security agencies and all relevant stakeholders must rise against every form of political violence. It should not merely be condemned; the perpetrators must be held accountable.

“Politics is not war. People who are in one political party today can move to another party tomorrow. There is no justification for killing or attacking your brothers, relations and members of your community because of politics.

“Security agencies, civil society organisations and journalists must intensify campaigns against political violence. We must discourage it completely because the scars and consequences remain with the people and communities long after the political contest is over,” he said.

Nweke said the emerging political culture ahead of the 2027 elections suggested that candidates would increasingly be judged on their personal records, credibility and capacity to deliver, rather than on party affiliation alone.

He urged political office holders and contestants to recognise that the electorate had become more politically conscious and would continue to demand greater accountability and value from those seeking public office.