2027 Elections: Tinubu Told What to Do Over Next INEC Chairman Appointment
- The African Democratic Youth Congress has called on President Bola Tinubu, stating what qualities he must consider before appointing the next Independent National Electoral Commission chairman
- The group characterises vote buying as "undemocratic and a criminal act", urging stricter penalties before the 2027 general elections
- The group tasked the Nigerian youths with what to do ahead of the 2027 elections and their role in strengthening Nigeria's democracy
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FCT, Abuja - With the tenure of the Independent National Electoral Commission Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, ending in December, a pro-democracy group under the aegis of the African Democratic Youth Congress, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to select a successor who possesses undeniable integrity and capacity.
Source: Twitter
The Director-General of the group, Prince Muritala Haliru Dantoro, made the call on Tuesday, August 19, in Abuja while speaking to the press during the group's public presentation on the state of the nation.
Dantoro emphasised that ensuring Nigeria's electoral process is on the right track starts with selecting a trustworthy individual to lead INEC, pointing out that President Tinubu must prioritise the nation's interests over partisan concerns when making this appointment.
“If the president is going to choose the next INEC chairman, he should put Nigeria first. Someone who has integrity, who has the interest of Nigeria first, and not given to primordial or partisan interests,” Dantoro said.
ADYC expressed concern over the growing incidence of vote buying in Nigerian polls, characterising it as both undemocratic and a criminal act. It urged for more severe penalties to check this problem before the 2027 general elections.
Dantoro also urged Nigerian youths to come forward and assume leadership positions in the country's political arena, stating that their active involvement is vital in shaping Nigeria's democratic strength.
“We must understand that vote buying is not merely a transaction; it is a betrayal of our collective future. It is the tool that gives power to the wrong people – individuals who prioritise personal gain over public service and who will inevitably fail to bring desperately needed development to our communities.
“They buy their way in, and they will only serve themselves" Dantoro expressed.
The National Coordinator of the group, Mrs. Ruqayya Lamido Dodo, encouraged the youths to step up and occupy leadership positions, stating that the present generation is weary of being mere onlookers in a nation that is theirs.
Source: Twitter
How electoral leadership fuels public frustration
Legit.ng previously reported that in every democracy, the ballot is sacred, but never neutral. Its credibility depends entirely on the integrity of those who manage it. Around the world, electoral commissions have proven to be either the guardians of democratic will or the architects of its betrayal.
The fall of incumbents in countries like Colombia, Chile, and Guatemala was not just a reflection of voter sentiment; it was made possible by electoral bodies that stood firmly with the mandate of the people. In contrast, Belarus and Venezuela have shown how compromised commissions can entrench power, distort outcomes, and render elections performative.
Peter Obi decries vote buying
Legit.ng also reported that the former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has described vote-buying in Nigeria as a deliberate strategy that undermines the nation’s democracy.
Obi said politicians who purchase votes are securing a “licence to plunder” public resources intended for schools, hospitals, and jobs. The former Anambra state governor made this post on X on Tuesday, August 19.
Obi challenged the notion that voters are innocent victims in the practice of vote-buying, asserting that those who sell their votes are complicit in the erosion of their own future.
Source: Legit.ng
