A founding member of the All Progressives Congress, Osita Okechukwu, has rejected claims that the Independent National Electoral Commission is being used as a political weapon by the ruling Party ahead of the 2027 general election.
Okechukwu, who previously served as Director-General of the Voice of Nigeria, said the APC had no need to rely on INEC as a “handgun” to secure electoral victories, insisting that the Party’s success should be based on democratic legitimacy.
He made the clarification in a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday while responding to allegations by opposition parties that INEC operates as an extension of the APC.
“Certainly not,” Okechukwu said. “I dismiss the handgun allegation. APC needs free and fair elections, not only for legitimacy with our 31 state governors, but for the genuine growth of our fledgling democracy and overall good governance.”
He said credible elections remained essential to strengthening Nigeria’s democratic institutions and maintaining public confidence in government.
Okechukwu’s statement followed recent appeals by the INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, for political parties to strengthen internal democracy.
Amupitan made the appeal during a courtesy visit to former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, in Minna, Niger State.
The APC chieftain acknowledged the INEC Chairman’s continued advocacy for reforms within political parties, noting that similar appeals had previously been made in Akwa Ibom and Abuja.
However, Okechukwu argued that the electoral commission had more than an advocacy role, saying it possessed the constitutional authority to enforce compliance with internal democratic processes within political parties.
“Whereas one agrees with the Chairman that strict observance of internal democracy within political parties is of paramount importance, the greatest incentive for political parties to uphold internal democracy is the consistent conduct of free, fair, and transparent elections by INEC,” he said.
Drawing on political science principles, the former VON Director-General said political leaders would be more likely to respect the wishes of voters and choose popular candidates when they were confident that elections would be transparent and free from manipulation.
“Political party leaders will do everything within the ambit of the law to keep their houses in order and present the most acceptable and popular candidates when they are confident that elections will be free and fair. In such circumstances, they are compelled to obey the wishes of the electorate,” Okechukwu said.
“However, when elections are perceived as lacking transparency, internal party conflicts and impunity are more likely to thrive.”
Reaffirming the APC’s commitment to democratic development, Okechukwu urged INEC to remain focused on delivering free, fair and credible elections, describing a transparent electoral process as the foundation for strengthening Nigeria’s democratic institutions.
