Former national vice chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the North-West, Salihu Lukman, raised concerns about the looming threat of state capture in Nigeria spreading to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). He expressed apprehension over the possibility of a compromised electoral system due to the sway of political interests.
Expressing particular worry over the potential appointment of a new INEC chairman under President Tinubu, Lukman pointed to a lack of focus on appointing qualified individuals to key governmental roles. He interpreted this as a potential signal of plans to influence the electoral process by installing a compliant INEC chairman.
With the tenure of the current INEC chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, ending before the 2027 general election, Lukman stressed the importance of carefully choosing a competent and unbiased leader for the electoral body. He warned that failing to do so may render INEC vulnerable to external pressures, potentially leading to it being exploited for hidden political motives rather than upholding the integrity of elections.
According to The Sun, Salihu said, “Given that the tenure of Mahmood Yakubu, current INEC chairman will end before the 2027 general election. And with the way President Tinubu betrayed any commitment to appointing competent people into his government, the possibility of appointing a new INEC chairman who will facilitate the capture of INEC is high.”