Prince Adewole Adebayo, the presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), has expressed concerns about the Independent National Electoral Commission's (INEC) ability to conduct free, fair, and credible elections. According to Adebayo, INEC's composition and appointment process make it challenging for the commission to operate independently. He made these remarks in an interview with Tribune Newspaper.
Adebayo reacted to INEC's decision to publish the preliminary voters' register online, following pressure from stakeholders, including former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar. While acknowledging INEC's legal obligation to make the register available, Adebayo argued that the commission's structural issues make it unsuitable for credible elections. He cited the recommendations of the Justice Muhammadu Uwais-led Electoral Reform Committee as a better framework for reforming INEC.
The SDP presidential candidate cited Ghana as an example of a country where political parties participate in the electoral process, including the printing of ballot papers. Adebayo suggested that Nigeria could adopt the Uwais panel's recommendations, which propose an independent INEC with a leadership not appointed by a partisan authority. He emphasized that this would ensure the commission's independence and credibility.
Adebayo also commented on INEC's omission of some governorship candidates from its published list, attributing the error to the commission's interpretation of the Electoral Act. He disagreed with a Supreme Court decision granting the National Assembly powers to determine political party membership but acknowledged the court's final authority. Adebayo accused INEC of selectively removing candidates' names without seeking clarification from affected parties.
The SDP candidate expressed concerns about Section 63(2) of the Electoral Act, which permits the counting of ballot papers without official INEC marks under certain circumstances. He described this provision as wrong and warned that it could create opportunities for electoral irregularities. Adebayo also rejected suggestions that technological challenges during the 2023 general elections were caused by failures of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV).
Adebayo attributed the technological issues to deliberate sabotage or refusal by officials to comply with electoral provisions. He compared the situation to a photographer refusing to take a photograph, arguing that the failure should not be blamed on the camera. Adebayo emphasized that opposition parties and Nigerians must continue to pressure INEC to perform its duties in accordance with the law.
On the economy, Adebayo criticized the removal of petrol subsidy by President Bola Tinubu's administration, describing it as a mistake. He proposed making crude oil available to domestic refineries at no cost, prioritizing local consumption before exporting the remaining production. Adebayo argued that this approach would naturally reduce prices without the need for government price controls or subsidies.
Key points
- Adebayo criticizes INEC's structure and composition as hindrances to free, fair, and credible elections.
- The SDP presidential candidate proposes adopting the Uwais panel's recommendations for an independent INEC.
- Adebayo expresses concerns about the Electoral Act and the economy, including the removal of petrol subsidy and the student loan programme.
