Human rights activist and legal scholar, Chidi Odinkalu, has expressed deep concern over the ability of the Independent National Electoral Commission to conduct credible elections in 2027, openly declaring that Nigerians cannot trust the current leadership of the electoral body.
Speaking during a live appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Odinkalu delivered a blistering assessment of the commission’s performance, particularly criticizing its chairman, Joash Amupitan, over the conduct of the recently concluded Federal Capital Territory Area Council elections.
According to him, the exercise exposed glaring administrative failures that raise serious doubts about the commission’s preparedness to manage a nationwide election.
“INEC failed. Amupitan’s INEC failed woefully,” Odinkalu stated. “Based on this performance, nobody can trust Joash Amupitan to organise credible elections in 2027. This is not about the law. It is about the failure of leadership, the failure of planning, and the failure of electoral administration.”
He argued that elections in the nation’s capital should represent the highest standard of organisation and credibility, yet the FCT polls were riddled with logistical confusion, voter dislocation, and poor coordination.
Odinkalu criticized INEC for reassigning voters to different polling units without adequate public communication, a situation he said left many voters confused and discouraged participation.
He dismissed claims that it was too early to judge Amupitan’s leadership, noting that the INEC chairman had previously overseen a governorship election in Anambra State and therefore should possess adequate experience to handle complex electoral logistics.
The outspoken lawyer urged electoral officials to either commit fully to professionalism or vacate their offices for others who are ready to deliver transparent elections.
He also challenged INEC leadership to accept responsibility for its shortcomings, apologize to Nigerians, and demonstrate a genuine willingness to improve.
According to him, credible electoral leadership requires humility, accountability, and continuous learning, not denial or excuses.
Odinkalu stressed that Nigerians are not demanding perfection, but visible commitment to improvement, transparency, and institutional reform.
He warned that continued administrative lapses could further erode public trust, deepen voter apathy, and endanger Nigeria’s fragile democracy ahead of the critical 2027 general elections.
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