In a recent statement via his official X account, public affairs analyst, Mahdi Shehu has expressed concern about the role of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Nigeria’s democratic process, questioning the commission’s neutrality and commitment to protecting voters’ rights.
“INEC and the masquerades behind it should be held responsible If anything goes wrong with the upcoming 2027 elections, particularly disenfranchising voters through the ill-advised and wrongly timed voters revalidation and the forceful exit of opposition parties through the use of tricks and hiding behind court orders. Already Nigeria’s Democracy is the most fragile in the world and the moment it is lost then everybody in Nigeria will become a sure loser,” he wrote.
Shehu compared INEC to a body expected to protect and preserve the electoral system and explained that the commission is meant to act as a fair institution that ensures all citizens can vote freely and that electoral laws are applied without bias.
However, he warned that this responsibility is being undermined and suggested that the commission’s actions and inactions are raising doubts about its independence, according to him, there are growing concerns that INEC may not be acting in a balanced and transparent manner.
Shehu pointed to what he described as selective compliance with court orders, he said such actions could create the impression that the commission is taking sides in political matters, this, he argued, weakens trust in the electoral system.
Another issue he raised is the ongoing discussion about voter revalidation ahead of the 2027 general elections, he warned that poorly timed or improperly managed processes could lead to voter disenfranchisement and added that opposition parties may also face unfair challenges if the system is not handled carefully.
Shehu stressed that INEC must be held accountable for its decisions, he said the credibility of future elections depends on the commission acting with fairness and transparency at all times. Read_More…