Credible elections go beyond INEC leadership, Kolawole says as Nigerians await Tinubu’s choice

Simon Kolawole, a prominent columnist, has said that credible and acceptable elections in Nigeria will require more than just appointing the right chairman for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

He argued that while leadership of the electoral body is critical, politicians and voters also share responsibility for the integrity of the process.

“We surely need the right leadership at INEC. In addition, desperate politicians must repent. Likewise, voters must develop the temperament for democracy,” Kolawole wrote in his latest commentary published by TheCable on Sunday.

“It is awkward to keep promoting the notion that it is only when your candidate wins an election that it can be considered credible.”

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Kolawole’s remarks come as the tenure of INEC chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, draws to a close. Yakubu, who has served since 2015, is the first Nigerian electoral boss to complete two terms, making him the longest-serving in the country’s history. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is expected to nominate his successor soon, subject to Senate confirmation.

While many Nigerians believe the credibility of elections depends largely on the character of the INEC chairman, Kolawole cautioned that competence is just as vital.

“The general election is conducted in 176,846 polling units across the 36 states of the federation and the FCT. In a country with severe infrastructure deficit, it requires competence to handle the logistical nightmare,” he wrote.

He also highlighted challenges beyond INEC’s control, particularly at the collation centres, where politicians often influence ad-hoc staff and security personnel.

“Most of what is done to election results are at the collation centres,” he noted, warning that this “ground game” remains a major weak link.

Kolawole praised some of INEC’s reforms, such as open vote counting, biometric registration, and the introduction of the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal. However, he said the commission over-promised on IReV in 2023, when it failed to upload presidential election results in real time. “I believe IReV was oversold by INEC and it came back to bite them,” he wrote.

Despite setbacks, he insisted progress has been made. “It is far from perfect but I think we are heading somewhere,” he argued, pointing to how electronic registration and biometrics have reduced inflated voting figures seen in past elections.

As the country awaits Tinubu’s nomination of Yakubu’s successor, Kolawole stressed that sustainable credibility will require shared responsibility.

“All these ingredients are essential if we want to truly grow this democracy and promote credible elections,” he said.