Aregbesola Drops Bombshell: "I Benefited From Election Shenanigans - But Nigeria Must End INEC Dictatorship!ÔÇØ | READ FULL

... Former Osun governor and ADC chieftain, Rauf Aregbesola, shocks Nigerians with rare confession - insists that unless the process of who controls INEC changes, elections will remain manipulated.

A fresh wave of political debate has erupted following shocking remarks by former Osun State governor and Interim National Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Rauf Aregbesola, who openly admitted that he once benefited from "election shenanigans and strugglesÔÇØ - but now insists the system must be overhauled to protect Nigeria's democracy.

Speaking during a high-profile panel discussion in Abuja themed "Innovation in Electoral Technology 2015-2025,ÔÇØ Aregbesola challenged the credibility and independence of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), saying the entire management structure needs to be reformed to eliminate what he described as "dictatorship in election management.ÔÇØ

"Whereas Stalin once said cynically that the voters do not matter, but the man who announces the result does - we have seen this play out here,ÔÇØ Aregbesola declared.

"I'm saying it clearly: if we do not change the process of who manages what in the electoral body, to at least downplay a single person dictating the tune and managing their affairs, we are joking with democracy.ÔÇØ

The former Minister of Interior didn't mince words as he accused the electoral system of operating like a secret cult, often changing technological procedures without transparency or public accountability.

According to him, INEC's tendency to introduce new technologies like the BVAS or IReV without first demonstrating them to Nigerians breeds confusion and distrust.

"INEC must be compelled by law to present and physically demonstrate the technology it plans to use before elections,ÔÇØ Aregbesola said.

"Don't tell us you're using BIVAS or any other system, only to change the entire process on election day - that's abracadabra! Nigerians deserve clarity and consistency.ÔÇØ

Aregbesola's statement has stirred controversy across political circles, with some analysts praising his honesty for admitting past benefits from a flawed system, while others accuse him of hypocrisy for only calling for reform after leaving power.

Political observers also interpret his comments as a veiled criticism of the current administration's handling of electoral institutions, amid growing public concern about political interference in INEC's operations ahead of 2027.

The ADC chieftain's fiery comments have reopened discussions about electoral independence, transparency, and the urgent need for democratic reforms, as many Nigerians now question whether credible elections are truly possible under the current structure.