Sam Amadi, Director of the Abuja School of Social and Political Thoughts, has declared that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is the primary obstacle to free and fair elections in Nigeria. In a post shared via his office’s X handle on Wednesday, Amadi called for opposition parties to unite and push for a constitutional amendment to dissolve INEC and establish a new electoral body.
He criticized opposition parties for their perceived reliance on INEC to rig future elections, calling this belief “foolishness.” Amadi’s comments come amid allegations of vote-buying and electoral manipulation during the recent Edo State governorship election, where Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was declared the winner.
Amadi, along with the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has raised concerns about INEC’s integrity, highlighting delays in announcing results from key local councils as evidence of potential tampering. He also stressed that any 2027 presidential aspirant who does not prioritize electoral reform, particularly disbanding INEC, is not serious about their ambitions.
Previously, Amadi served as the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and has consistently advocated for reform in Nigeria’s election management system.
News Editor