Nigeria is set to hold its 2027 general elections in less than four months, yet many citizens remain skeptical of the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) assurances that the process will be free and fair.
INEC had promised a modernised election in 2023, declaring that both manual and electronic collation of votes would be used. The commission failed to deliver on that promise and did not offer any apology for misleading the public. As a result, a significant number of voters continue to reject the results of various election stages, arguing that the elections themselves are intrinsically flawed.
One illustration of the problem is a recent governorship election in which the Supreme Court initially ruled that candidate A was the legitimate candidate of the winning party. INEC, however, declared candidate B the winner. The court later ordered a recount that gave victory to candidate C, a decision that raised questions because the recount produced more votes than there were registered voters. The case highlights the confusion over who is allowed to contest and the court’s willingness to overturn INEC’s initial results.
Critics say that INEC’s staff and leadership are too closely tied to political parties. The commission is required by the constitution to remain non‑partisan, yet appointments of National and Resident Electoral Commissioners often come from within the political establishment. Technical and strategic staff are sometimes promoted to commissionership by state governors to carry out “nefarious activities,” according to the article, suggesting that the body may be colluding with politicians.
During Nigeria’s transition from military rule, President Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida created a two‑party system and tasked INEC with drafting party constitutions. Although democracy was restored in 1999, the article argues that the electoral body continues to supervise parties 27 years later, preventing them from developing independently. The author questions whether parties can mature if INEC remains a “coach” rather than merely a referee.
Every election cycle sees the National Assembly introduce a new Electoral Act, but the changes rarely address the core issues. The law allows INEC to monitor or not monitor party primaries, creating ambiguity that fuels “shadow‑chasing.” The repeated amendments have not reduced voter distrust, and the article notes that open vote buying and other malpractices still occur, undermining confidence in the electoral process.
When a court decides to add a political party to the list of contestants on the eve of voting, the commission is often left in a panic, further eroding public trust in the integrity of Nigeria’s elections.
<small>Source: Vanguard News — read the original story there.</small>
