Nigerian human rights lawyer, Chidi Odinkalu, has expressed doubts about the ability of the country’s electoral body to conduct credible elections, following concerns over recent local polls in the capital.
Speaking on a television programme, Mr Odinkalu criticised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), saying its performance in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) council elections fell short of expectations.
He said the commission, led by its chairman Joash Amupitan, could not be relied upon to organise free and fair elections in 2027 based on its recent conduct.
Join our WhatsApp Channel“INEC failed,” he said, describing the exercise as poorly managed.
Professor Odinkalu pointed to logistical challenges during the polls, including what he described as inadequate coordination and the reassignment of voters without proper notice of changes to their polling units.
He also rejected suggestions that it was too early to assess the new INEC chairman, noting that Amupitan had previously overseen a governorship election in Anambra State.
The lawyer urged electoral officials to either improve their performance or step aside, saying credible elections require both competence and commitment.
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He also called on the commission to acknowledge shortcomings and apologise to Nigerians where necessary.
According to him, the public is not demanding perfection but expects clear efforts to address identified problems and improve future elections.
Prosper Okoye is a Correspondent and Research Writer at Prime Business Africa, a Nigerian journalist with experience in development reporting, public affairs, and policy-focused storytelling across Africa
