Sam Amadi: Tinubu not to blame for INEC voter register mess—commission must audit itself
Dr Sam Amadi, Director of the Abuja School of Social and Political Thought, tells Arise News that President Tinubu shouldn't carry the blame for the controversy trailing INEC's recently released voter register. "The president is a competitor," Amadi says. "If the regulator has screwed up, the regulator should clear the mess."
The controversy centers on allegations of suspicious voter inflation—claims that some polling units jumped from roughly 400 to 1,500 registered voters—and questions about the overall 103 million figure. Amadi warns this could reverse the recent surge in youth electoral participation and deepen public distrust ahead of 2027.
Amadi demands INEC accept responsibility, apologise to Nigerians, and publish a clear timeline for cleaning up the register. He pushes for an independent audit involving professional bodies like the Nigerian Society of Engineers and the Association of National Accountants of Nigeria, arguing political parties should insist on a transparent, non-partisan assessment.
INEC's leadership took office under a cloud of credibility concerns. Rebuilding trust now requires action, not deflection. The commission's next moves will signal whether it prioritises electoral integrity or institutional self-preservation.
As 2027 approaches, what specific transparency measures should Nigerians demand from INEC before committing to trust the process?