The clamour for electoral reform in Nigeria is not new. Long before the 2023 general elections that brought the Tinubu administration to power, Nigerians had been crying out for change. But that cry has grown louder, sharper, and more urgent in the last two years—echoing a collective frustration with an electoral system that has consistently failed to live up to its promise. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), under the leadership of the now-outgoing Professor Mahmood Yakubu, became the lightning rod of this discontent.
Many Nigerians believe the 2023 elections fell far short of expectations. Results were neither transmitted electronically nor in real time, as promised. Instead, the process was marred by irregularities that cast long shadows over credibility and fairness. Civil society organisations and other critical stakeholders have refused to let the matter rest. They continue to demand sweeping reforms within INEC to forestall a repeat of such flaws, particularly with the 2027 general elections now in sight. But without the right people, systems, and commitment to integrity, all the reforms in the world will remain mere ink on paper. Since the return to democracy in 1999, Nigeria’s electoral process has been plagued by manipulation, malpractice, and monumental mistrust.
The European Union Election Observation Mission (EUEOM) recently criticised INEC’s conduct of the 2023 polls and called for stronger institutional independence—an indictment that mirrors the verdict of most Nigerians. Ironically, Professor Yakubu himself, on bowing out of office, urged the National Assembly to fast-track the review and passage of new electoral reforms, warning that legal uncertainty could once again endanger the 2027 elections. His caution is a telling reminder that without a stable and credible framework, elections remain a ritual without meaning.
Sadly, all previous attempts to grant INEC true independence have been blocked by a political class that thrives on control. The present arrangement suits their ambitions—it gives them the leverage to bend the system to their will, often without consequence. The sanctity of the ballot must no longer be negotiable. Every obstacle to the use of technology—particularly in voter accreditation and result transmission—must be dismantled. Nigerians and the international community alike are demanding a new standard of accountability and transparency, one that ensures electoral outcomes are respected by all and not endlessly contested in courtrooms that have lately become extensions of polling units.
The recommendations of the EU Observation Mission on the 2023 elections, along with those of domestic civil society groups, must not be swept under the carpet. The Executive, Legislature, and Judiciary must show political will and moral courage. Political parties, the media, professional associations, and ordinary citizens must also take ownership of the reform process if democracy is to have any real meaning.
The crisis of trust in Nigeria’s political system is deep and corrosive. It has eroded faith at home and tarnished our image abroad. As the countdown to 2027 begins, the nation cannot afford another electoral embarrassment. INEC must be reformed, empowered, and allowed to function independently—true to its name and true to the will of the Nigerian people.
