The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has raised serious concerns about the erosion of public trust in Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), citing persistent electoral failures and administrative inefficiencies. The opposition party warns that credibility crises surrounding INEC threaten the legitimacy of upcoming elections, including the key 2027 general elections.
ADC accuses INEC of failing to uphold transparency and fairness in the electoral process, pointing to repeated technical glitches with the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), malpractices such as vote buying, and poor management of election results dissemination via the INEC Results Viewing Portal (IREV). These issues have contributed to voter apathy and public disillusionment.
Previous by-elections across multiple states revealed systemic flaws including logistical delays and multiple re-runs, further undermining confidence. Political stakeholders and civil society groups echo calls for urgent reforms and an overhaul of INEC’s technological and operational frameworks before the 2027 polls.
The leadership transition slated for late 2025 at INEC, with the exit of Chairman Mahmood Yakubu after two terms, adds complexity. Experts emphasize that transparent and non-partisan appointments to INEC’s top positions are critical to restoring faith in Nigeria’s electoral system.
ADC urges the Nigerian government to address electoral corruption comprehensively and implement independent audits and tighter oversight mechanisms. Failure to do so could jeopardize democratic governance and citizen participation in future elections.