FCT Poll: INEC Failed Woefully, Cannot Be Trusted to Deliver Credible 2027 Polls — Odinkalu
Human rights activist and lawyer Chidi Odinkalu has cast doubt on the ability of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), under its chairman Joash Amupitan, to conduct credible elections in 2027.
Odinkalu spoke on Monday during an interview, where he reviewed the conduct of the recent area council elections in the Federal Capital Territory.
Assessing the polls, he said, “INEC failed. Amupitan’s INEC failed woefully. On this evidence, nobody can trust Joash Amupitan to organise credible elections in 2027.”
He maintained that the lapses recorded during the FCT council elections were not rooted in legal constraints but stemmed from administrative shortcomings.
“There’s nothing else to it; it is not about the law. It is about the failure of will, the failure of electoral administration,” he added.
The former chairman of the National Human Rights Commission urged electoral officials to either adequately prepare for their duties or allow more competent individuals to take over the responsibility.
Reacting to suggestions that it might be premature to assess Amupitan, who assumed office late last year, Odinkalu argued that the INEC chairman was not inexperienced, noting that he had previously supervised a governorship election in Anambra State.
He further criticised INEC’s logistical arrangements in the nation’s capital, describing them as poorly managed. Odinkalu faulted the commission for reassigning voters to different polling units without adequate prior notice on election day, a development he said disenfranchised many eligible voters.
The lawyer also challenged INEC to own up to its errors and tender an apology to Nigerians.
“Amupitan can tell Nigerians that ‘I take personal responsibility; this is a chastening experience. I am learning; some of these things I saw cannot happen on my watch,” he said.
“But to simply pretend as if these things did not happen and say this is the standard to which elections are organised will be irresponsible.”
Odinkalu emphasised that Nigerians are not demanding perfection from the electoral body but expect demonstrable commitment to reform.
“A chairperson of INEC who is committed to credible elections would admit that there are failures that should never have happened on the watch of a credible electoral administrator and will say, ‘We will do something about it,’” he said, adding that non-partisan citizens should be involved in addressing the identified shortcomings.
