Members of key Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have urged the newly appointed Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, to consolidate on the gains and reforms achieved under the immediate past Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu.
They stated that sustaining the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral process requires the collective commitment of political parties, the judiciary, security agencies, and citizens.
The stakeholders made the call on Wednesday at a colloquium organised by the Centre for Transparency Advocacy (CTA) to celebrate achievements and reforms INEC recorded under Yakubu.
The colloquium, themed “Strengthening Nigeria’s Democracy: Reflections on a Decade of INEC Leadership,” brought together political leaders, academics, and civil society actors, who agreed that consolidating on the institutional and technological foundations laid under Yakubu’s leadership is key to building a more credible, transparent, and resilient electoral system in Nigeria.
Speaking, Deputy National Chairman of IPAC, Hon. Dipo Olayoku, described the conduct of elections in Nigeria as one of the most complex national responsibilities, noting that the problem goes beyond the electoral body itself.
According to him, conducting elections in Nigeria is no easy task, adding that 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 said.
He commended Yakubu for introducing technology-driven reforms that have improved transparency and credibility in Nigeria’s electoral system.
“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.
Olayoku, however, lamented that the absence of accountability for electoral offences continues to undermine progress, saying when wrongdoing goes unpunished, even reform-minded leaders can only do so much.
Echoing similar sentiments, the Executive Director of the Pioneering Advocacy and Advancement Centre in Nigeria (PAACA), Chief Ezenwa Nwagwu, said Yakubu’s tenure marked a period of remarkable innovation.
He noted the digitisation of electoral processes, particularly the electronic transmission of results via the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV), as a transformative step that promoted greater transparency.
He said, “Though it was not perfect, it was a step in the right direction. 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, stressed that technology alone cannot guarantee credible elections. He argued that the future of Nigeria’s democracy depends on institutional integrity and civic responsibility.
According to him, democracy cannot rely solely on technology, as the future of Nigeria’s elections will depend on institutional cooperation and civic responsibility.
He described Yakubu’s decade-long leadership as a rehearsal for the future, urging the new INEC leadership to strengthen 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 in law, in process, and in principle. The Commission he leaves behind is not perfect, but it is purposeful; not without critics, but undeniably credible in its evolution”, he stated.
The Executive Director of the Centre for Transparency Advocacy (CTA), Faith Nwadishi, said the colloquium was organised not only to celebrate Yakubu’s achievements but to reflect on lessons learned and chart a way forward.
She noted that INEC recorded significant gains through innovations such as 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. 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, expressed concern over persistent challenges, including insecurity, vote-buying, voter intimidation, and apathy, which continue to threaten the credibility of elections.
