University Professor Says INEC Not to Blame for Rise in Election Disputes
Auwalu Yadudu, the Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Birnin Kebbi, has stated that the high number of election disputes in Nigeria should not be blamed on the Independent National Electoral Commission. He explained that most cases are caused by politicians who are dissatisfied with election outcomes and by the failure to follow electoral laws, rather than by deliberate wrongdoing from INEC officials or returning officers. Yadudu made this known during an interview with Arise News on Wednesday while reacting to remarks made by the new INEC Chairman, Joash Amupitan, who recently said he would work to ensure that election results are determined at polling units rather than in the courts.
Yadudu said that although Amupitan’s goal is commendable, court involvement in elections cannot be completely removed because disputes naturally arise when political actors feel cheated. He explained that the courts do not interfere in elections by themselves but only step in when candidates or political parties bring cases before them. He noted that the Constitution gives the courts the authority to interpret the law and make decisions when disagreements occur.
The professor emphasized that court cases usually emerge when candidates or political parties believe that procedures were not properly followed during elections, including issues arising from party primaries, campaign processes, and the conduct of polling itself. He added that in many situations, the dissatisfaction of politicians fuels legal battles, not the actions of INEC officials.
Yadudu also addressed the role of vice-chancellors, professors, and retired public officers who are involved in announcing election results. He noted that they do not alter figures but simply read out results that have already been collated at various levels. However, he acknowledged that there have been isolated cases of misconduct from electoral officials, such as the widely publicized incident in Adamawa State during the 2023 elections, where an electoral commissioner declared results without proper authority.
Speaking on the issue of vote buying, Yadudu condemned the widespread practice of using money to influence voters. He expressed concern that many voters knowingly accept cash and gifts in exchange for their votes. He said that improving voter education and encouraging personal integrity would help citizens resist such behavior and make more principled decisions at the polls.
Yadudu also recommended reforms to the Constitution and Electoral Act to ensure stronger accountability. He suggested that election commissioners and other officials should be more directly answerable to the national electoral body so that misconduct can be more effectively monitored and punished. According to him, such reforms would strengthen public trust in the election process and help reduce political tensions.
