Tinubu To INEC: Use FCT, Rivers Elections To Strengthen Voters’ Confidence
By: Abudu Olalekan
This Saturday is a pretty big one for Nigerian democracy. No two ways about it.
Ahead of the elections holding this weekend across the Federal Capital Territory, Kano and Rivers, President Bola Tinubu has told INEC in very clear terms that this is their chance to start rebuilding the public trust that has been pretty much completely broken over the last two years.
The charge was issued late on Friday, in an official statement shared with Reportersroom and other media outlets, signed by Bayo Onanuga, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy.
Most people following already know what is on the ballot. INEC will be running full council elections across all six area councils of the FCT. There are also two state constituency bye elections in Rivers, at Ahoada East II and Khana II, and another two bye elections in Kano Municipal and Ungogo in Kano state. For a lot of voters this is the first proper national test of INEC since the 2023 general election.
Tinubu did not mince words at all. He specifically admonished the commission to take every single necessary measure to bolster voters confidence. That means accreditation starts on time. That means voting runs smoothly. That means collation is done correctly and openly. And most importantly that means prompt and public transmission of results, exactly as is required under the 2026 Electoral Act.
He did not only direct his comments to INEC though. He also had a very direct message for political parties, candidates and all of their supporters. He told them to reject violence, to stop making inflammatory statements, and to avoid any action at all that could undermine the credibility of the entire process before it even concludes.
He also had a message for ordinary voters. Come out and vote. Do not stay home because you are afraid.
He also had a warning for security agencies. He cautioned against any form of high handedness, any intimidation, any action at all that could disenfranchise voters or erode what little trust is left. He stressed that security personnel are deployed this weekend only to protect lives, property and the sanctity of the ballot. Nothing else.
The statement closed with a line that will be interpreted very differently by different people.
“Fellow Nigerians, I assure you that the Federal Government under my administration will continue to support all institutions responsible for delivering free, fair and credible elections.”
“To all residents of FCT, Kano and Rivers, I commend your civic consciousness. I am confident that these elections will reflect the will of the people and further strengthen our democratic journey as a nation.”
Nobody is really expecting everyone to take this statement at face value. A lot of people will say it is just words. A lot of other people will say it is an important and long overdue signal from the presidency to the electoral commission.
No one can say yet if any of this will turn out to matter. We will all find out on Saturday.
