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Seasoned journalist and chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Dele Momodu, has criticised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), saying Nigerians have lost confidence in the electoral body ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking in an interview on Channels TV Momodu said the commission’s credibility had been eroded by repeated failures, making it difficult for Nigerians to trust the country’s electoral process.
“The impression currently is that INEC is impotent, and you cannot blame Nigerians for that,” he said.
Explaining the growing public distrust, Momodu cited a Yoruba proverb, saying, “There is a Yoruba proverb that a woman whose child has been killed before by a witch sees every woman as a witch.”
He argued that the commission had fallen below public expectations, adding, “INEC has gone past the hopes of Nigerians. So don’t be surprised if Nigerians see INEC as a witch that will continue to kill and suck the blood of its victims.”
Momodu also questioned the value Nigerians had derived from the enormous resources allocated to the electoral umpire over the years.
“Despite all the resources poured into INEC, it usually fails so glaringly and spectacularly,” he said.
Referring to the forthcoming governorship election in Osun State, he expressed concern over the heavy security deployment and reports of violence.
“Next week we are expecting an election in Osun State. Just one state out of 36 states in Nigeria. And what are we seeing? It’s like a war,” he said.
He added, “They are bringing in soldiers, bringing in police, bringing in battalions, some people have already gotten their guns and they are shooting sporadically on the streets. So this cannot be what an election should be.”
Momodu recalled that Nigeria once conducted elections under more peaceful conditions, pointing to the June 12, 1993 presidential poll as an example.
“We saw in 1993 how the June 12 election ran very smoothly. But today we don’t have anything close to that. Nigeria should be improving, not deteriorating, not degenerating,” he said.
The ADC chieftain further argued that the conduct of the electoral commission reflects the intentions of those responsible for appointing its leadership.
