Movement For Credible Elections Demands INEC Chairman’s Resignation

Movement for Credible Elections Demands INEC Chairman’s Resignation Over Trust Crisis, Warns on Vote-Buying Ahead of Ekiti Poll Civil society group alleges credibility deficit in electoral umpire, urges urgent reforms as police vow arrests of vote buyers and political thugs before upcoming Ekiti governorship election. The Movement for Credible Elections (MCE) has called for the immediate resignation or temporary stepping aside of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), citing what it described as a growing crisis of public trust ahead of the Ekiti State governorship election and the 2027 general elections. The group made the demand amid renewed concerns over electoral integrity, vote-buying, and alleged partisan influences within Nigeria’s electoral process. It warned that failure to address the credibility issues surrounding the electoral commission could further undermine confidence in upcoming elections. MCE argued that the perception of neutrality is essential for democratic stability, insisting that lingering allegations against the electoral leadership must be independently investigated. It added that restoring public trust requires urgent institutional reforms before major polls are conducted. The organisation also cautioned that increasing monetisation of elections poses a major threat to Nigeria’s democracy, stressing that vote-buying has become one of the most damaging factors in recent electoral cycles. According to civil society stakeholders, the combination of weakened trust in electoral institutions and unchecked financial inducement risks distorting voters’ choices and delegitimising election outcomes. Ahead of the Ekiti governorship election, the group warned that politicians and political actors may intensify inducement strategies targeting voters at polling units. It urged security agencies and INEC to strengthen monitoring mechanisms and ensure strict enforcement of electoral laws. The MCE further called for the arrest and prosecution of both vote buyers and sellers, saying such actions are necessary to deter electoral fraud and restore integrity to the voting process. Meanwhile, the Nigeria Police Force has assured the public of robust security measures ahead of the Ekiti polls, vowing to clamp down on vote-buying, electoral violence, and disruption of the voting process. Security authorities said they would deploy operatives across strategic locations and collaborate with electoral officials to ensure a peaceful and credible election. They warned that individuals or groups attempting to compromise the process through inducement or violence would be arrested and prosecuted in line with electoral Nigeria’s electoral process has faced repeated criticism over allegations of vote-buying, violence, and declining public trust in electoral institutions. Civil society organisations have consistently called for reforms to strengthen INEC’s independence and improve transparency in election management. The Ekiti governorship election is seen as a key test ahead of the 2027 general elections, with stakeholders closely monitoring security preparedness, voter behaviour, and institutional credibility. As political activities intensify ahead of the Ekiti poll, pressure continues to mount on electoral authorities to restore confidence in the system. While civil society groups demand leadership accountability and reforms, security agencies insist they are prepared to ensure a peaceful and credible election process.