Senior Advocate Warns of INEC Politicisation Ahead of 2027 Elections
Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Dr Charles Mekwunye has expressed alarm over what he perceives as the growing politicisation of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). He cautioned that this trend could undermine the credibility of the 2027 general elections even before they commence.
Mekwunye delivered his remarks during the 2026 Law Week of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Agbor Branch, which carried the theme “Future Proofing Nigeria’s Democracy: Credible Elections and the Legal Cross-Roads.” In his keynote address, the senior lawyer argued that despite clear constitutional provisions outlining INEC’s responsibilities and appointment criteria, the electoral body has persistently failed to conduct elections that Nigerians consider free and fair.
“Most Nigerians will agree that INEC has consistently failed to live up to national expectations. Elections conducted by INEC are neither free nor fair,” he asserted.
According to Mekwunye, many officials within the electoral commission are either overwhelmed by political pressure or compromised by politicians who allegedly influence appointments into the commission. He lamented that a former aide to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who has longstanding political ties with the All Progressives Congress (APC), was appointed an INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC).
The SAN noted that the individual had previously served as Special Assistant to Akpabio during his tenure as Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Chief of Staff when Akpabio was Governor of Akwa Ibom State, and later Secretary to the State Government. Mekwunye described this as a clear example of partisan infiltration of the electoral body, arguing that the appointee should have been disqualified from serving as an REC.
He stated that the appointment became a subject of litigation, during which the witness admitted to working closely with Akpabio for several years in different political and governmental capacities. Despite what Mekwunye called “clear admissions of political association,” the Federal High Court dismissed the suit challenging the appointment.
An appeal has since been filed at the Court of Appeal, but the SAN lamented that the matter has not been assigned a hearing date, despite repeated letters requesting an accelerated hearing before the next election cycle. “Not giving us a date to challenge this alleged violation of the Constitution amounts to tacit support for politicians and a grave disservice to the national interest,” he said.
Mekwunye questioned how the courts could justify the appointment of an individual widely perceived as politically aligned with a supposedly neutral electoral institution. The senior lawyer warned that unless the issue of partisan appointments into INEC is addressed, Nigerians should not expect credible elections in 2027.
“There is no hope that INEC, as presently constituted, will conduct free and fair elections in 2027,” he stated. He urged authorities to strictly comply with constitutional provisions guiding appointments to the electoral commission to restore public confidence in the nation’s electoral process.
