INEC: PLAC Executive Director, Nwankwo, Warns Of Credibility Crisis

The Executive Director of the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC), Clement Nwankwo, has sounded the alarm over the perceived erosion of the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) independence, warning that it threatens to undermine public trust and destabilise Nigeria’s democratic process.

Speaking on ARISE NEWS, Nwankwo expressed dismay at the current political climate, which appears to favour one party ahead of the 2027 general elections. “As we head to the 2027 general elections, it is very, very sad to see that as it is going, it appears that it’s only one party that appears to be coasting to some level of stability as we go on. The other parties are mad in their own confusion because of the influence of the ruling party,” he said.

Nwankwo criticised INEC’s weakened credibility, citing successive election cycles and lack of transparency. “INEC came out of the 2023 general election, that even 2019, with its reputation severely dented, and we had said, INEC needs to rebuild its credibility, needs to rebuild its image, needs to rebuild citizens’ trust in it. And for me, I think that’s the worrying issue,” he noted.

He warned that illegitimate elections could lead to pyrrhic victories and long-term instability. “Those who win an election that people have no trust in the process, probably just end up with a pyrrhic victory. Pyrrhic victories always have consequences,” Nwankwo cautioned.

The PLAC executive director questioned INEC’s independence, citing unnecessary election timetable adjustments and lack of result verification. “So all of these things raise the question, is INEC making these decisions independently, or is it under political pressure to make these decisions?” he asked.

Nwankwo also highlighted the high cost of politics, exclusion of capable citizens, and monetisation of politics as contributors to poor governance. “If it is governorship, you pay 50 million. If it is senate, you pay 20 million so your process already excludes people. It excludes independent candidates,” he said, adding that “the more you spend, the more you want to reap when you get into office. That’s why you see levels of corruption, which I must say is at an incredibly high as we speak right now.”

He stressed that legitimacy requires public perception of fairness and called for reforms to restore trust in INEC and Nigeria’s democratic process. “Across the world, there is a posture of election observation, Based on that, your government that emerges from that election is treated with the credibility of humans,” Nwankwo said, warning that if electoral trust continues to erode, Nigeria risks long-term democratic instability.