Kenneth Okonkwo, a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and Nollywood actor, faulted President Bola Tinubu's defense of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on July 31 [1].
The criticism highlights a deep-seated distrust in Nigeria's electoral machinery. If the commission is perceived as a tool of the presidency rather than an independent arbiter, it threatens the perceived legitimacy of future democratic transitions.
Okonkwo said the commission has not done enough to convince Nigerians of its impartiality [2]. He said that the Independent National Electoral Commission still has unresolved issues stemming from the 2023 elections [1]. According to Okonkwo, these lingering problems make the president's defense of the agency insufficient.
The actor and politician suggested that the relationship between the executive branch and the electoral body has become inappropriately close. "Nigeria is in trouble, the President has become INEC spokesperson," Okonkwo said [3].
Okonkwo's remarks come as part of a broader call for the commission to prove its neutrality to the public. He said that the commission's inability to convince the electorate of its independence undermines the democratic process in Nigeria [1].
By defending the agency, President Tinubu has drawn fire from opposition figures who believe the electoral body requires rigorous reform, and distance from the presidency, to regain public trust [1], [3].
“The commission has not done enough to convince Nigerians of its impartiality.”
This friction underscores the ongoing struggle for electoral credibility in Nigeria. When a sitting president defends the electoral commission, it can be interpreted by opposition parties as a sign of collusion, potentially fueling political instability and voter apathy ahead of future election cycles.
