Nigeria Cannot Hold Credible Elections Under Current INEC — Mekwunye, SAN

Charles Mekwunye, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, told reporters in Abuja on Wednesday that the country's electoral framework will continue producing flawed outcomes unless INEC undergoes structural overhaul before the next general election cycle.

INEC Structure Under Fire

Mekwunye pointed to persistent operational failures, including delayed results announcements and discrepancies between official figures and physical ballot counts. He argued these are symptoms of an institution structurally incapable of delivering elections that meet domestic and international standards.

The Senior Advocate cited the 2023 general election as evidence. INEC declared Bola Tinubu winner of the presidential race after weeks of tallying delays. Observers from the European Union noted significant gaps in the chain of custody for results from polling units to collation centres.

What Reforms Mekwunye Demands

Mekwunye called for three changes. First, he wants statutory independence for INEC's administrative arm, removing executive influence over staff postings and budget execution. Second, he demanded the unbundling of the commission so that the legal, logistics, and technology divisions report separately to parliament rather than to a single chairman. Third, he pressed for a constitutional ceiling on the time between election day and result proclamation.

Presently, INEC's chair serves at the pleasure of the President. Mekwunye said this creates a conflict of interest whenever the incumbent seeks re-election. His comments come as opposition parties have begun selecting candidates for off-cycle governorship elections in Anambra and Ondo states.

The Budget Question

Funding shortfalls have plagued INEC for years. The commission received approximately 1.5 trillion naira over the last electoral cycle, yet officials acknowledged in a February briefing to the National Assembly that logistics costs consumed 68 percent of expenditure. Critics argue this leaves insufficient resources for staff training and technology upgrades.

Political Reactions

The opposition Labour Party issued a statement supporting Mekwunye's diagnosis but stopped short of endorsing his specific proposals. The ruling All Progressives Congress described his remarks as politically motivated, arguing that INEC has improved since 2015.

Former INEC commissioner Professor Andrew Osele dismissed the idea that the commission lacks capacity. He told Vanguard News that the 2023 election saw 24 million Nigerians verify their identities through the bimodal voter accreditation system, proving the technology works at scale.

Continental Stakes

Africa's democratic progress depends partly on credible Nigerian elections. The continent's largest economy and most populous nation sets precedents that shape governance expectations across 54 countries. When Nigeria's electoral processes face scrutiny, multilateral lenders and foreign investors recalibrate risk assessments for the entire region.

The African Union's election observer missions have repeatedly urged member states to strengthen institutional independence. Mekwunye's warnings align with broader continental concerns about backsliding in Ghana, Kenya, and Senegal, where election management bodies have faced political pressure in recent years.

What Watchers Should Track

The National Assembly reconvenes in October. A coalition of civil society organisations plans to present a petition demanding INEC restructuring hearings before the budget cycle closes. If legislators ignore the call, Mekwunye indicated he would pursue judicial review of the commission's operational guidelines.

The next general election is scheduled for 2031. With off-cycle governorship polls arriving as early as next year, the window for structural change is narrowing. Whether the political class will act before voters go to the polls again remains the central question hanging over Nigerian democracy.