Former Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission, Prof, Chidi Odinkalu, has said that Nigerians cannot trust the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan SAN, to conduct a credible election in 2027.

Speaking on Channels Television’s programme “Politics Today,” Odinkalu described INEC’s handling of the recent Federal Capital Territory (FCT) election as a complete failure.

According to him, the problems seen during the FCT poll were not caused by weak laws but by poor planning and lack of commitment from election officials.

He said the FCT election was a “small election,” yet it was filled with serious mistakes that raise concerns about how INEC would handle a nationwide election in 2027.

Odinkalu listed several challenges that bedeviled the FCT Election, including:

• Poor election logistics
• Weak management of electoral rules
• Last-minute movement of voters to different polling units without proper notice
• Lack of voter education and clear information
• Violence during the election
• Alleged alteration of results in some areas
• Problems with result collation on election day
• He described the situation as “disgraceful” and insisted that INEC leadership must take responsibility.

Odinkalu said election officials must do their work properly or step aside if they are unwilling to improve the system.

His comments have raised serious concerns about INEC’s readiness to conduct the 2027 general elections.

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