Human rights lawyer and former chairman of the National Human Rights Commission, Chidi Odinkalu, has strongly criticised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over its handling of the recent council elections in the Federal Capital Territory, declaring the exercise a major failure.
Speaking during an appearance on Channels Television on Monday, Odinkalu expressed deep concern about the electoral body’s credibility under its current leadership, insisting that Nigerians have little reason to trust its ability to conduct transparent elections in 2027.
According to him, the commission’s chairman, Joash Amupitan, must accept personal responsibility for what he described as glaring administrative lapses.
“Amupitan’s INEC failed woefully. Based on what we saw, nobody can trust him to organise credible elections in 2027,” Odinkalu said.
He stressed that the problems observed during the FCT polls were not due to legal limitations but rather poor coordination and a lack of institutional commitment.
Logistical Failures, Voter Confusion
Odinkalu pointed to significant logistical shortcomings, particularly the last-minute reassignment of voters to different polling units without adequate public notice. He said the move effectively disenfranchised many residents in the nation’s capital.
He also dismissed suggestions that the INEC chairman should be given more time due to his relatively recent appointment, noting that Amupitan was not new to election administration, having previously overseen a governorship poll in Anambra State.
Call for Accountability
The activist urged INEC leadership to publicly acknowledge its shortcomings instead of defending what he called an “unsatisfactory performance.”
Odinkalu said Nigerians are not demanding perfection from the electoral body but expect honesty, accountability, and visible commitment to reform.
He added that a credible electoral leadership should admit failures, apologise to citizens, and engage independent stakeholders to prevent a repeat of such issues.
His remarks have intensified public scrutiny of INEC’s performance in the FCT elections, piling fresh pressure on the commission’s leadership as the country looks ahead to the 2027 general elections.
