By Dr. Michael Omoruyi | Director, Diaspora Affairs, LPPMC
In every democratic society, the independence of the electoral commission is sacrosanct—non-negotiable, untouchable, and protected at all costs. It is the referee, the scorekeeper, and the final arbiter of political competition. When this institution is compromised, the very fabric of democracy begins to unravel.
Today in Nigeria, that critical institution—the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)—is standing trial, not in a court of law, but in the hearts and minds of the Nigerian people. Increasingly, citizens no longer see INEC as an unbiased umpire. They see it as a political tool—wielded by the ruling elite to retain power, suppress dissent, and crush electoral credibility. And when the referee picks a side, the match is already lost before it begins.
A Fractured Trust, A Failing System
From the 2019 general elections to the 2023 polls, INEC has faced growing accusations of selective enforcement, delayed result transmission, compromised technologies, and political double-speak. For many Nigerians—especially the youth who placed their hopes in change—INEC’s failure to deliver transparent results feels like betrayal.
This loss of trust is not academic. It has real consequences. Voter turnout remains abysmally low, political apathy is rising, and post-election violence simmers just beneath the surface. In a nation already fractured by ethnic divisions, insecurity, and poverty, a compromised electoral umpire adds fuel to a dangerous fire.
When Elections Are Rituals, Not Remedies
Democracy is not just about holding elections—it’s about making sure those elections mean something. If INEC continues to act like an extension of the state rather than a check on state power, elections in Nigeria will become mere rituals—predictable exercises in rubber-stamping the status quo.
What’s the point of standing in line under the scorching sun, only to find your vote uncounted, or worse, discarded in a digital void? What’s the use of campaigning, if outcomes are already rigged in boardrooms?
In such an environment, politicians no longer answer to the people. They answer to themselves. And democracy, stripped of accountability, becomes a performance—a hollow show with a pre-written script.
The Path to Redemption: INEC Must Be Reformed or Replaced
It’s time we had a hard national conversation about INEC’s structure, independence, and future. Reforms must go beyond cosmetic tweaks. The process of appointing INEC commissioners must be taken out of the grip of the presidency and subjected to a transparent, multi-stakeholder process. Funding must be guaranteed and insulated from political pressure. And results—manual or electronic—must be transmitted in real-time and open to public audit.
If INEC cannot be trusted to protect the democratic process, it must be dismantled and rebuilt from scratch. Nigeria’s democracy is too fragile, too young, and too vital to be left in the hands of a compromised institution.
Democracy Dies When the Umpire Cheats
The survival of Nigerian democracy is not just about who wins or loses elections—it’s about whether the people believe the game is fair. When INEC becomes a political pawn, democracy loses its meaning, and the streets, not the ballot box, become the last refuge of justice.
Let it be said clearly: no nation survives for long when its citizens no longer believe in the power of their vote. Nigeria must choose—between institutional decay and democratic renewal. The clock is ticking.
For iNewsAfrica | New York | Lagos | Abuja
✍🏽 Published: June 12, 2025 — Nigeria’s Democracy Day
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