A former National Commissioner for Information and Voter Education at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Festus Okoye, has accused Nigeria’s political elite of undermining electoral credibility through vote-buying and efforts to prevent ballots from determining election outcomes.
Okoye, who spoke on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Tuesday, said many politicians appeared unwilling to allow Nigerians to freely choose their leaders.
He lamented that political parties lacked clear ideologies and were not campaigning on issues, but instead focused on strategies that could render voters’ choices ineffective on election day.
According to him, a credible election requires voters to cast their ballots without intimidation, coercion or duress.
“What they know is that on election day they will find a way of making sure that the votes of the people really do not count,” he said, referring to the conduct of political parties.
Okoye called for continuous improvements in the electoral process, including the deployment of technology where appropriate, to strengthen transparency and public confidence in elections.
He also urged the media, civil society organisations and Nigerians to closely monitor politicians before, during and after elections.
The former INEC commissioner highlighted the role of ad hoc election workers, including members of the National Youth Service Corps and other Nigerians recruited for electoral duties, noting that they play a more prominent role at polling units than the commission’s regular staff.
His comments come as political parties prepare for the 2027 general elections, with concerns over vote-buying, electoral transparency and the credibility of the process remaining prominent in public debate.
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