A former coordinator of the Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Organisation in Zamfara State, Senator Kabiru Marafa, has alleged that Nigeria’s electoral body is no longer neutral.
He claimed that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is largely dominated by members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), warning that such a situation could threaten the credibility of the 2027 general elections.
Marafa, who represented Zamfara Central in the Senate, made the claim during an interview, where he spoke on the current political climate and preparations ahead of the next presidential poll.
He said the alleged appointments into INEC go against the law, which clearly states that officials of the commission must be non-partisan.
According to him, there are growing concerns that the ruling party is positioning itself to dominate the political space without opposition.
He warned that any attempt to turn Nigeria into a one-party state would fail, insisting that the country’s size and diversity cannot support such a system.
Speaking on the situation, he said: “The situation is confused, and I think politicians today didn’t learn any lessons over the years.”
Marafa expressed worry that the actions of political actors could destabilise the system if not properly handled. He noted that Nigeria’s population and political complexity make it impossible for any single party to control everything without resistance.
He said: “You cannot, by any stretch of the imagination, railroad a country of nearly 300 million people into just one political party. It just cannot work.”
The former lawmaker also questioned the neutrality of INEC, stating that he no longer has confidence in the electoral body. He argued that although Nigeria has strong electoral laws, the problem lies in how those laws are implemented.
He said: “How can I have confidence in INEC? I don’t know the kind of people… The law establishing INEC provides that anybody that is to be appointed into the umpire must be neutral, non-partisan.”
Marafa insisted that, contrary to this requirement, many of those currently occupying key positions in the commission are politically affiliated. He said this has made it difficult for the body to act independently in sensitive matters.
He added: “But what we have today—everybody knows that it is card-carrying members of political parties that are being appointed into positions of authority in INEC.”
He further criticised the commission’s handling of internal party matters, especially its position on the leadership crisis within the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
According to him, the commission’s interpretation of legal directives in the matter raises questions about its impartiality.
Marafa also took a swipe at the ruling party, accusing it of trying to avoid a competitive election despite its control of several states and key government institutions. He described the situation as “unfortunate and laughable,” noting that a party with such influence should not fear opposition.
He questioned the election timetable being proposed, arguing that the long gap between party primaries and the general election does not make political sense.
On the issue of political loyalty within INEC, Marafa declined to name specific parties but maintained that those appointed often align with the interest of those in power.
He said: “But the bottom line is, regardless of their political parties, they are going to dance to the music of he that appoints them.”
He concluded with a warning that no group or individual can assume absolute control over the country’s political future, stressing that history has shown such efforts often fail.
“In all these things, anybody that tried to play God, God always has a way of showing human beings that God is God and human beings are human beings,” he said.
