Concerns have been raised over alleged nepotism within the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), following reports that about seven Yoruba people are heading sensitive departments of the electoral body.
According to reports making the rounds, the departments include Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Procurement, Planning and Monitoring, Litigation and Prosecution, Commission Secretariat, Voter Register and Audit.
There are claims that while seven departments are headed by directors from the South-West, other geopolitical zones, including the South-South, South-East, North-Central, North-West and North-East, reportedly have one director each.
The development has raised questions about the commission’s impartiality and credibility, particularly as Nigeria approaches the 2027 general elections.
Some opposition figures have also expressed concerns, claiming that the alleged imbalance could be part of a plan to manipulate the outcome of the forthcoming elections.
In a post on his official Facebook page, Nigerian businessman and social commentator Prince Isaac Fayose questioned whether the commission belonged to a single tribe.
He called on INEC to urgently address the allegations to restore public confidence in its reputation and independence.
“While I’m not insinuating anything beyond what any reasonable Nigerian would insinuate under the circumstance, is it proper, fair, safe and acceptable that individuals from a particular geopolitical zone and tribe have complete control of unarguably the most sensitive departments of INEC during a general election?
“INEC needs to clearly, urgently, publicly and transparently address this issue — if it wants to be seen as truly independent, impartial and uncompromised.
“Politicians should not try to achieve through the back door what they have not earned and can’t achieve through the front door — especially using a publicly funded institution that is supposed to be independent, impartial and above reproach,” he wrote.
Similarly, an X user, Dr Michael Abiodun, said that if the viral list was accurate, “then this is not INEC Headquarters structure, this is the Afenifere branch office with the INEC logo”.
According to him, “if true, how do you convince South-Easterner that result on IReV was not manipulated, when person controlling ICT, Voter Register and Litigation are all from one zone? Even if they are saints, perception alone kills legitimacy, Election is not just about counting, it is about believing counting.
“But let me also be honest, this list flies around every election season, Sometimes it is exaggerated, Sometimes it is old, Sometimes they count acting directors as substantive, So before we burn INEC, INEC should publish full organogram with names, states, and date of appointment on its website today, Not press release, organogram.
“If list is false, publishing will kill fake news, If list is true, then INEC Chairman has 48 hours to correct it in line with Federal Character, because you cannot preach credible election with incredible structure”.
Also speaking on the matter, Paul Ibe, a media aide to the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, urged the commission to immediately address the concerns, stating that Nigerians deserved a “transparent explanation”.
“Given INEC’s constitutional responsibility to conduct free, fair and credible elections, Nigerians deserve a transparent explanation of this apparent imbalance and whether the appointments comply with the federal character principle.
“Electoral impartiality must not only be guaranteed; it must also be demonstrably evident,” he wrote on X.
2027: Outcry as 7 Yoruba DGs reportedly occupy INEC’s sensitive departments