By Felix Khanoba
The Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) and several civil society organisations (CSOs) have called on the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, to sustain and deepen the progress achieved under his predecessor, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu.
They said the credibility of Nigeria’s electoral system depends on shared responsibility among political actors, the judiciary, security agencies, and citizens.
Speaking during a colloquium organised by the Centre for Transparency Advocacy (CTA) in Abuja, the Deputy National Chairman of IPAC, Hon. Dino Olayoku, described the conduct of elections in Nigeria as one of the country’s most complex national tasks, stressing that the challenges extend beyond INEC’s mandate.
“Conducting elections in Nigeria is no easy task,” Olayoku said. “Many Nigerians still believe that once they take part in an election, they must win. We all remember the ‘do-or-die’ politics of 2007. That mindset remains one of the biggest challenges facing our democracy.”
He praised Prof. Yakubu for introducing technology-driven reforms that strengthened transparency and credibility in Nigeria’s electoral process. “Through the use of technology, Professor Yakubu made our elections more credible and acceptable. His innovations have brought a new level of transparency to Nigeria’s electoral process,” he stated.
However, Olayoku expressed concern over the lack of accountability for electoral offenders, warning that it continues to hinder genuine progress. “When wrongdoing goes unpunished, even reform-minded leaders can only do so much,” he said. “Every stakeholder must take responsibility for strengthening our electoral culture.”
Echoing this view, the Executive Director of the Pioneering Advocacy and Advancement Centre in Nigeria (PAACA), Chief Ezenwa Nwagwu, said Yakubu’s tenure represented a period of notable innovation. He pointed to the digitisation of election management — especially the electronic transmission of results via the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) — as a major leap toward transparency.
“Though it was not perfect, it was a step in the right direction,” Nwagwu said. “The INEC candidate nomination portal was another innovation that helped end the culture of politicians disturbing or attempting to influence INEC officials. It brought sanity and contributed significantly to the advancement of our electoral process. Continuous voter registration was also a major reform that must be sustained.”
In his keynote address, Professor of Political Institutions, Governance and Public Policy at the University of Ibadan, Emmanuel Aiyede, noted that technology alone cannot guarantee credible elections. He said the future of Nigeria’s democracy depends on strong institutions and civic engagement.
“Democracy cannot rely on technology alone,” Aiyede said. “The future of Nigeria’s elections will depend on institutional cooperation and civic responsibility. Political parties must internalise democratic norms, the judiciary must uphold electoral justice with courage, security agencies must act with impartiality, and citizens must continue to defend the sanctity of the vote. INEC, for its part, must remain a custodian that is firm, fair, and forward-looking, committed to serving not governments or parties, but the Nigerian people.”
He described Yakubu’s decade-long leadership as “a rehearsal for the future,” urging the new INEC administration to consolidate local elections, deepen voter participation, improve result management, and institutionalise post-election accountability. “His leadership has shown that credible elections are not miracles of circumstance but outcomes of discipline — discipline in law, in process, and in principle,” Aiyede said. “The Commission he leaves behind is not perfect, but it is purposeful; not without critics, but undeniably credible in its evolution.”
CTA’s Executive Director, Faith Nwadishi, said the forum was convened not only to celebrate Yakubu’s accomplishments but to examine lessons learned and set new goals. She highlighted several innovations during Yakubu’s tenure — including the deployment of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), electronic result transmission, improved logistics, and stronger stakeholder engagement.
“INEC institutionalised continuous voter registration, expanded stakeholder consultations, and strengthened its internal systems,” she said. “Importantly, Prof. Yakubu opened INEC’s doors wider to civil society, media, and other groups, and prioritised transparency in election management. He was also gender-sensitive, creating the first crèche at the INEC headquarters to support nursing mothers at work.”
Nwadishi, however, cautioned that persistent issues such as insecurity, vote-buying, voter intimidation, and apathy continue to pose serious threats to election credibility. “These challenges remind us that innovation alone is not enough,” she said. “Our collective commitment, institutional reform, and political will must match our technological advancements.”
She urged stakeholders to continue engaging with honesty and courage. “As we reflect on the past ten years, let us do so with honesty, courage, and purpose. Let today’s conversation be open and engaging. Let us question, recommend, and commit — because the strength of our democracy depends on what we do with the lessons before us.”
The colloquium, themed “Strengthening Nigeria’s Democracy: Reflections on a Decade of INEC Leadership,” brought together political leaders, academics, and civil society representatives, who agreed that consolidating on the institutional and technological foundations laid under Mahmood Yakubu’s leadership remains essential for building a more credible, transparent, and resilient electoral system.
