Okonkwo tackles Tinubu over comment about INEC, says Nigeria in trouble
ADC Chieftain Criticizes President Tinubu’s Defense of INEC
Kenneth Okonkwo, a prominent figure in the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has expressed criticism of President Bola Tinubu regarding his recent defense of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). In an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, Okonkwo contended that INEC has failed to establish sufficient credibility among Nigerians.
The ADC chieftain’s remarks came in response to Tinubu’s assertion that INEC remained neutral amid widespread criticisms from opposition parties. Okonkwo accused the President of acting as a spokesperson for the electoral body rather than addressing public concerns regarding its integrity.
“It is very sad,” Okonkwo stated. “Any country where the President has transformed into the chief spokesperson of INEC is in trouble.” He challenged Tinubu’s claims of impartiality, citing unresolved issues from the 2023 general election that continue to raise doubts about INEC’s neutrality.
Okonkwo recalled Tinubu’s statements made during the 2015 campaign when he suggested forming a parallel government in the event of electoral fraud. “The same Tinubu who criticized INEC is now asserting its neutrality,” he noted. “An INEC that experienced a technical glitch in 2023 and has not satisfactorily explained it to Nigerians cannot simply be declared neutral. We are urging INEC to be neutral; as of today, it is not.”
Additionally, Okonkwo, who also serves as the spokesperson for former Vice President Atiku Abubakar in preparation for the 2027 presidential election, argued that Tinubu’s current performance could hinder his chances for re-election. He suggested that the President should consider resigning rather than pursue another term. “Tinubu should not even allow the election to hold; he should resign and go in peace,” he asserted.
In the same interview, Okonkwo addressed a recent Court of Appeal ruling that reversed an earlier decision to deregister the ADC and four other political parties. He emphasized the party’s success in resisting attempts to remove it from Nigeria’s political scene through legal channels. “I had boasted that ADC does not have any legal challenge because we know the only challenge it faces is the APC trying to use judicial instruments to litigate us out of existence. We resisted them, and they are failing,” he said.
Okonkwo further accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of orchestrating efforts to weaken opposition parties as the country approaches the 2027 general elections. He claimed that the APC is employing various tactics to undermine Nigeria’s democratic processes.
