Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is faltering under the weight of its own inadequacies. Tasked with safeguarding the nation’s democratic process, INEC has instead become synonymous with logistical failures, technological mishaps, and eroded public trust. The 2023 general elections, marred by controversies, underscored the urgent need for sweeping electoral reform and new leadership to restore credibility to Nigeria’s democracy.
INEC’s track record is a litany of missed opportunities.
The 2023 elections, budgeted at N305 billion, were meant to showcase technological advancements like the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV). Of this, an estimated N114 billion was allocated specifically for BVAS and IReV to ensure seamless voter accreditation and result transmission. Yet, these systems faltered spectacularly. IReV malfunctions and inconsistent BVAS deployment led to delayed results and widespread allegations of rigging, wasting a significant portion of the N114 billion investment. Polling units opened late, and the commission’s excuses about “technical glitches” failed to quell public outrage. For 2025, INEC has proposed a N126 billion budget, including funds to replace over 440 BVAS machines, ballot boxes, and voting cubicles lost to attacks and fires, despite N205 million in insurance claims being remitted to the federal treasury. This cycle of funding without results highlights a deeper institutional failure.
The leadership of INEC, under Professor Mahmood Yakubu, bears much of the blame. While Yakubu has overseen some innovations, the persistent technological and logistical failures most notably the squandered N114 billion on BVAS and IReV cast a shadow over his tenure. Public perception of INEC as politically compromised, whether true or not, is a damning verdict. New leadership is not merely symbolic; it is essential to rebuild trust and ensure competence.
Reform must be bold and systemic. First, INEC’s appointment process, currently controlled by the president, invites accusations of bias. A transparent, merit-based system involving civil society, opposition parties, and the judiciary could restore impartiality. Second, technological investments like the N114 billion spent on BVAS and IReV must be backed by rigorous testing and accountability to prevent further waste. For 2025, INEC’s N126 billion proposal includes funding for Continuous Voter Registration and off-cycle elections, but without reforms, these funds risk being misallocated. Third, INEC’s autonomy must be fortified with secure funding, as the N40 billion initially allocated for 2025 was deemed insufficient, forcing INEC to seek a 212.5% increase.
The stakes are monumental. Nigeria’s democracy cannot withstand another flawed election cycle. With 2027 approaching, voter apathy and political instability loom large. Civil society, the media, and citizens must demand accountability and push for legislative reforms, including an amended Electoral Act to address these structural flaws. INEC’s failures exemplified by the N114 billion squandered on failed technology betray the Nigerian people’s faith in democracy. New leadership and robust reforms are not optional; they are the only path to an electoral body that inspires confidence rather than suspicion.