INEC Under Fire: Is Nigeria’s Electoral Referee Playing for APC?

Nigeria’s electoral referee is facing a question that could define the 2027 elections: can INEC convince millions of Nigerians that it is truly independent — or are growing allegations of political bias becoming impossible to ignore? The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was created to protect the integrity of Nigeria’s elections. But as the country moves closer to 2027, controversies surrounding the commission are once again raising uncomfortable questions about its neutrality. For many Nigerians, the biggest concern is simple: Can the same institution responsible for declaring election winners be trusted to remain completely impartial when the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is involved? The 2023 presidential election generated intense controversy, with opposition parties challenging aspects of the electoral process and questioning INEC’s handling of electronic result transmission. The allegations of manipulation were disputed, and the courts ultimately upheld President Bola Tinubu’s victory. Former INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner Mike Igini has warned that the commission must address perceptions of partisanship. The controversy was partly fuelled by allegations concerning an X account supposedly linked to INEC Chairman Professor Joash Amupitan. INEC rejected the allegation and said a forensic investigation found no connection between the account and the chairman. SERAP has asked INEC to investigate allegations that APC governors diverted about ₦800 billion in FAAC allocations for political and campaign purposes. SERAP subsequently took the matter to court, seeking to compel INEC to investigate the allegations. To be clear, these are allegations, not proven facts. But that distinction does not make the questions surrounding electoral accountability disappear. If INEC is genuinely independent, then allegations involving any political party including the ruling party should be investigated transparently and without fear or favour. If there is nothing to hide, transparency should not be a problem. If there is evidence of wrongdoing, Nigerians deserve to know. And if there is no evidence, INEC should be able to demonstrate that clearly enough to restore public confidence. The APC controls the federal government, but it should not control the electoral referee. INEC must therefore understand that independence is not merely a constitutional description. It is something Nigerians must be able to see in the commission’s actions. Every political party deserves the same treatment. Every candidate deserves the same rules. And every Nigerian voter deserves to believe that their vote will be counted fairly. The danger is not only actual electoral malpractice. The perception that the referee is favouring one side can itself damage democracy. As 2027 approaches, Nigerians will be watching INEC more closely than ever. The question is no longer simply who will win the next election?
The bigger question may be:
Will Nigerians trust the referee who announces the winner?