Policy analyst Professor Anthony Kila has urged political actors to focus on reforming Nigeria’s electoral process rather than concentrating solely on calls for the resignation of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman.
Speaking in an interview with ARISE News on Monday, Kila described the current controversy surrounding the INEC Chairman as “unfortunate,” especially given the proximity to key electoral deadlines.
“It’s a very unfortunate situation for the country to find ourselves in such a situation… barely a year to election time,” he said.
Kila acknowledged that opposition parties, including the ADC, have legitimate concerns if they perceive the electoral umpire as lacking neutrality.
“If they truly feel that the umpire is not independent… then of course they want to ask for his resignation,” he stated.
However, he emphasized that replacing the individual without addressing systemic flaws would not solve the underlying problem.
“I’m very worried that if the system remains the same and they bring in a new INEC Chairman, there’s nothing stopping that person from doing the same thing,” he said.
Kila stressed that what Nigeria needs is a transparent, inclusive, and well-structured electoral process that builds trust among all stakeholders.
“I think what parties need to ask for is a process that is transparent, that is inclusive,” he noted.
On allegations linking the INEC Chairman to a controversial social media account, Kila said the issue boils down to credibility and truthfulness.
“It’s either somebody’s mistaken or someone’s lying,” he said.
He added that if it is proven that the Chairman denied owning an account that actually belongs to him, it would constitute a serious breach of public trust.
“If it turns out… he’s lying about having an account, that’s a very grave thing,” Kila stated.
According to him, such a situation would justify removal, not just resignation, as integrity is critical to the role of an electoral umpire.
“That is enough reason to remove him, not even to resign,” he added.
Kila also criticized aspects of the Chairman’s decision-making process, citing lack of consultation, poor communication, and inconsistent policy decisions as factors that have fueled suspicion and distrust.
“There was not enough consideration, consultation, and enough communication,” he said.
He advised that future electoral decisions should involve broader engagement with political parties to reduce tension and build consensus.
“If he had carried along the parties… that kind of process would be less acrimonious,” he explained.
Kila concluded by calling on the INEC Chairman to either clear his name or take responsibility, while also urging the government to avoid interfering in electoral matters and allow the commission operate independently.
By Ojo Triumph
Bowen University
phone: +234 (0)70-000-BOWEN
mobile: +234 (0)70-000-BOWEN
email: contact@bowen.edu.ng
Bowen University, Iwo, Osun State
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