…Says Nigerians, not INEC, are the problem of elections
Former Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Enugu State, Dr. Emeka Ononamadu, has urged Nigerians to give the newly appointed INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, the benefit of the doubt, stressing that rebuilding public confidence in the electoral process requires national cooperation rather than constant condemnation.
Speaking on “Matters of the Moment”, a Sunrise FM programme, Ononamadu said that the current INEC leadership must be allowed to define its own legacy without being burdened by the shortcomings of past administrations.
The programme discussed the topic: “Amupitan’s Albatross: INEC Securing Electorates’ Trust and Integrity of Elections in Nigeria”, and was monitored by ENUGUDAILY.NET
According to him, Nigerians must understand that INEC, as an institution, remains a sacred channel through which the people transfer power to their representatives.
He disclosed that continued vilification of the Commission was largely driven by politicians who use it as an excuse for electoral failures.
“The narrative against INEC is being set by politicians so that when they lose elections, they have something to fall back on. Nigerians must realize that INEC is not the enemy — it is the vessel of democracy,” Ononamadu stated.
He argued that while INEC has made mistakes, the institution has also achieved significant progress, particularly in the adoption of digital technologies like BVAS and IReV, which have deepened transparency.
“Even the devil cannot rig our elections if Nigerians play their part,” he said, insisting that the problem lies more with the political class and voters than with the Commission.
Ononamadu blamed political parties for poor election management, saying most are not prepared to protect their votes after elections.
“Many political parties don’t even have results from all polling units to defend their cases in court. Some of their polling agents are compromised, yet INEC gets the blame,” he added.
The former REC maintained that electoral integrity rests on four key pillars — INEC, political parties, security agencies, and the voters. Failure by any of these, he said, weakens the credibility of the entire process.
He also emphasized the need for citizens to take up their “supervisory role” over public institutions rather than remaining passive or fearful during elections.
“Every leader is a servant of the people. If Nigerians fail to supervise their servants, they give room for abuse of office. Trust is a burden that must be placed on the leader by the people, not the other way around,” Ononamadu explained.
Speaking on the persistent distrust in INEC, he maintained that “trust has not been broken” but only “stagnated,” calling for renewed civic engagement and voter participation.
He noted that despite controversies surrounding the 2023 general elections, the outcome showed progress, as for the first time in Nigeria’s history, five political parties produced governors across different states.
Ononamadu, however, expressed concern over political influence and institutional pressure on INEC leadership, urging Professor Joash to remain firm and independent in decision-making.
“Political pressure is inevitable, but every INEC Chairman must have the courage and integrity to stand firm. If you lack the will to do the right thing, those who appointed you will use your past against you,” he warned.
The former REC also advocated urgent review of the Electoral Act to close existing loopholes, especially regarding the legal backing for the use of BVAS and electronic transmission of results.
He concluded by challenging Nigerians to reclaim ownership of the democratic process:
“Election is not the business of politicians alone. Governance affects everyone. Until citizens understand that, trust in INEC will remain fragile.”
