Former military ruler and head of the National Peace Committee, Abdulsalami Abubakar, has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to stay neutral and ensure fairness for all political parties, no matter the political pressure they face.
He made this appeal on Friday when INEC Chairman, Joash Amupitan, and his national commissioners visited him at his home in Minna, Niger State.
During the visit, which also included a stop at the home of former military leader, Ibrahim Babangida, Abdulsalami highlighted the important role of the electoral body, especially with the Osun governorship election and the 2027 general elections approaching.
“Your appointment is very important for our democracy,” Abdulsalami told the group. “With politicians, you have to work hard to earn their trust because whatever you and your team do, someone will accuse you of being biased. If any politician loses, they will find reasons to blame INEC for their loss.”
Abdulsalami encouraged the commission to stay focused, ignore unnecessary distractions, and stick to their oath of office. He stressed that the INEC chairman should act as an unbiased referee for all political parties.
“The INEC Chairman cannot do this alone, but the final responsibility lies with you. I trust that you will uphold your oath. You must treat everyone fairly. All political parties belong to you; you cannot have one that you favor,” he added.
Abdulsalami, who oversaw the 1999 general elections, expressed trust in the current leadership of INEC. He said the National Peace Committee plans to hold a meeting in Abuja on 29 July, just before signing the Peace Accord on 30 July for the Osun governorship election.
In his speech, Mr Amupitan, a professor, assured Nigerians that their votes will count in both the Osun election and the 2027 general elections. He mentioned that the visit was meant to honor the older politicians for their efforts in maintaining national peace and to ask for their continued support.
Mr Amupitan praised the National Peace Committee for helping to promote political peace. He pointed out that the Peace Accord initiative has given political actors a key platform to commit to non-violence.
“Your initiative and intervention, especially the Peace Accord, have not only given political actors a way to promise non-violence but have also supported the wishes of the Nigerian people,” Mr Amupitan said.
The INEC chairman confirmed that the Osun governorship election will take place on 15 August, with the Peace Accord signing set for 30 July in Osogbo. He also reaffirmed the election calendar for 2027, with Presidential and National Assembly elections on 16 January 2027, and Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections on 6 February 2027.
Despite reiterating the commission's commitment to fair elections, Mr Amupitan pointed out serious challenges, including financial and logistical issues due to constant pre-election lawsuits.
“Just yesterday, my Legal Director told me about a court order for us to add another political party after we had already printed the ballot papers for Osun,” he revealed. “This means we may have to cancel and reprint all those ballot papers. These are some of the challenges we face.”
The chairman urged eligible voters to get involved in the democratic process, reminding citizens that the third phase of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise will close on Sunday, 26 July.
Drop your comment
No comments yet — be the first to drop the gist 👇