2027: Stakeholders raise alarm over plot to invade INEC by politicians

Ahead of the 2027 general elections, stakeholders in the Civil Society Organizations and election process have alerted Nigerians to resist attempt by politicians to invade the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

They revealed that in the next next months about six prominent Resident Electoral Commissioners and the current INEC Chairman have to step aside, hence the political elites have started plans to replace them with loyal members of their political parties ahead of elections.

This revelations was make public Tuesday in Abuja at a high level conference of thought leaders on civic space, poverty and elections in Nigeria, organised by the African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development (Centre LSD) in partnership with Women’s Rights Advancement and Protection Alternative (WRAPA).

Delivering his keynote speech on the topic, a Professor of Political Science at the University of Lagos and a former commissioner in the National Election Commission (NEC), Prof Adele Jinadu, said as part of its state capture and control of the electoral body by putting in partisan supporters.

His words: “I’m saying this now, because I can see clearly attempts to invade INEC. You don’t want to say it, forgive me but those of us who have
our ears on the ground, we know that process is going on now, and we
have seen images of it already. When party members were nominated as RECS and within one day, they were all confirmed because of the compliant of the National Assembly.

“Pressures are being mounted so that the process for registering
new parties will be used against those who want to start to use them to form a new government.

“And I think the role of the civil society is very important. there have to be a lot of vigorous resistance against that kind of thing.

“In the next six months, by November, the present leadership of INEC will have to step aside.

“I think we need to be vigilant and prevent that from happening because if you look at our history, the 1964-65 federal elections put us on the precipice because there was a deliberate attempt to tamper with and influence the federal electoral culture at the time to the extent that three or four members of the NEC had to resign.

“And we also know that in 1983, FEDECO was also deeply embedded in it and there was a disagreement about the name of FEDECO.

“So what I’m simply saying is that we should avoid a situation where we put partisan politicians on the INEC.

“The only way we can prevent that is to make sure that if and when that happens and we know those who are partisan politicians who are going to be INEC Commissioners.

Also speaking, another Professor of Political Science and Director Centre for Democracy and Development, Jibrin Ibrahim, urged Nigerians to resist their votes being stolen in 2027.

“The first solution, as I said, is that we as Nigerians must mobilize ourselves to prevent our votes from being stolen.
And that can be done. That is my primary emphasis.

“If we keep on appealing to them, they will just be laughing at us. We’ll pass a law, we’ll change the Constitution, but they will still keep behaving the way they are behaving.

“So the first primary concern for me is that Nigerians must stand up and be counted as we move towards 2027.”

In his welcome address, the Executive Director of the African Centre for Leadership, Strategy & Development (Centre LSD), Monday Osasah, said the goal of the conference is to enhance democratic governance, social protection, and electoral integrity in Nigeria.

“We believe that by working together, we can build a more inclusive, transparent, and accountable democracy that truly serves the needs of all Nigerians.

“This project is timely, given the current state of our democracy. We have seen the constriction of civic space, widespread poverty, and electoral malpractices that hinder our nation’s development. However, we also see opportunities for reform and positive change.”

Also speaking, the Secretary General of WRAPA, Hajiya Saudatu Mahdi, said when poverty persists, it entrenches gender inequalities and stifles community agency. And when elections lack integrity, it is the hopes of the marginalized, especially women, youth, Persons with Disability and other vulnerable groups that pay the highest price.

“Against this backdrop, WRAPA is proud to join forces with the African Centre for Leadership, Strategy & Development (Centre LSD), with the invaluable support of the MacArthur Foundation, to host this critical conference.”