Revealed: Why Usman Bugaje Declares INEC Has Lost Credibility, Warns of National Consequences

INEC, Nigeria's electoral umpire, has come under fresh attack as political activist and civil society leader, Usman Bugaje, openly declared that the commission has "lost credibilityÔÇØ and is now a threat to the country's stability.

Bugaje, who spoke during an interview on Arise Television on Monday, said Nigerians can no longer pretend that INEC is delivering on its constitutional duty, stressing that its continuous failure is gradually eroding not only public trust in the commission but also faith in Nigeria's democracy itself.

According to him, "I think everyone is aware that INEC has lost a lot of credibility and it is very important that the institution regains this credibility, otherwise the stability of the country is going to be threatened. When a key institution like INEC is not delivering and the failure continues, it destroys confidence in both the commission and democracy-and when that happens, you know the consequences.ÔÇØ

Bugaje further noted that some of the necessary electoral reforms that could restore public confidence remain deliberately blocked. He recalled how former President Muhammadu Buhari refused to sign an amendment that would have compelled INEC to adopt electronic tools and technological systems for collating and transmitting election results.

Bugaje also faulted the current system where the President of Nigeria appoints the head of INEC, describing it as a recipe for manipulation. He insisted that the recommendations of the late Justice Uwais-led Electoral Reform Committee provided a more credible path but were "blocked by those who benefit from a compromised INEC.ÔÇØ

"Most importantly, why should the President-who is a contestant in the elections-be the one to appoint the INEC chairman? That alone destroys public trust. We cannot continue this way if we are serious about democracy,ÔÇØ Bugaje stated.

His remarks have reignited debates over Nigeria's flawed electoral process and the urgent need for genuine reforms. Analysts argue that until the appointment of INEC's leadership is removed from presidential control and technology is fully adopted, elections will remain open to manipulation.

For many Nigerians, Bugaje's warning is a wake-up call: a democracy without credible elections is nothing but an illusion.