INEC missteps could collapse Nigeria’s fragile democracy – Shehu Mahdi

A public affairs commentator, Mahdi Shehu, has warned that Nigeria’s democracy could collapse if the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) fails to act fairly and responsibly ahead of the 2027 general elections.

In a post shared on X, Shehu compared INEC to a wildlife conservationist whose duty is to protect vulnerable resources.
He stressed that the electoral body is constitutionally expected to safeguard the rights of voters and political contestants.

According to him, by constitutional and legal provisions, INEC is like a forest and wildlife conservationist, whose role is to protect the system and those within it because of their vulnerability.

He explained that Nigerian voters, like forest resources, depend on INEC for protection, noting that the commission is expected to apply electoral laws in a balanced and unbiased manner at all times.

However, Shehu expressed concern that the commission may be drifting from that role.
He used an analogy to describe the situation, saying it becomes dangerous when the conservationist turns around to buy a hunting gun and an axe.
He warned that such a shift would leave both the system and its participants exposed.

He further alleged that through its actions, inactions, and reactions, INEC appears to be showing bias.
He accused the commission of taking sides and displaying deliberate reluctance in obeying certain court orders while interpreting others in a way that favours particular interests. This, he said, suggests a transformation from an unbiased umpire to a voter- and opposition-man-hunting vampire.

Shehu also raised concerns about specific developments ahead of the next election cycle, including what he described as a wrongly timed voters’ revalidation exercise, which he fears could disenfranchise eligible voters.

“INEC and the masquerades behind it should be held responsible if anything goes wrong with the upcoming 2027 elections, particularly disenfranchising voters through the ill-advised and wrongly timed VOTERS REVALIDATION and the FORCEFUL exit of opposition parties through the use of tricks and hiding behind court orders,” he wrote.

He alleged that there are attempts to push opposition parties out of the political space through tricks and hiding behind court orders, warning that such actions could undermine confidence in the electoral process.

“INEC and the masquerades behind it should be held responsible if anything goes wrong with the upcoming 2027 elections,” he said.

The commentator stressed that Nigeria’s democracy remains fragile and cannot withstand further shocks.

“Already, Nigeria’s democracy is the most fragile in the world, and the moment it is lost, then everybody in Nigeria will become a sure loser,” he warned.

INEC missteps could collapse Nigeria’s fragile democracy – Shehu Mahdi