By Our Reporter
Buba Galadima, a Chieftain of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), has expressed doubt over the ability of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct free and fair elections under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Speaking on Monday during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Galadima accused the current administration of neglecting governance in favor of early politicking, despite being only two years into its tenure.
He argued that INEC has become too weak to caution politicians, unlike in the past when the electoral body was quick to warn against premature political campaigns.
“See, look at it, when INEC was INEC, when politicians start to heat the polity, they come out and warn them that they have not allowed politicking.
“Could it be worse? What is happening, the politicking that is going on now just two years into the life of this administration. Look at the politicking that is going on when INEC doesn’t even have the muscle and the guts to call politicians to order because people in government are the ones that started. So how do you expect a free and fair election under these people?” he said.
The NNPP chieftain further questioned the electoral body’s strength to ensure credible polls, stressing that if INEC cannot restrain politicians from “jumping the gun,” then the prospect of transparent elections remains bleak.
“Well, if they can’t stop politicians from get-crashing or jumping the gun, how do you think they will have the liver to conduct a free and fair election?
“You, in your own estimation, if they just can’t say, look, mister man, stop, it is not yet time for politicking, it’s time for governance.
“That is why some of us are keeping quiet. We are waiting for the daytime, and when we start, the world will know that we are here,” Galadima added.
His remarks come amid growing political realignments and debates over Nigeria’s electoral integrity, with opposition figures warning that early politicking may undermine governance and democratic processes.
