The former Director-General of the Voice of Nigeria (VON), Mr. Osita Okechukwu, has urged the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, to focus on ensuring the conduct of free, fair, and credible elections.
Key Highlights
- Okechukwu urges INEC to prioritise credible elections: Former Voice of Nigeria (VON) Director-General Osita Okechukwu called on INEC to focus on conducting free, fair, and credible elections.
- Credible polls key to internal democracy: He argued that transparent elections are the strongest incentive for political parties to uphold internal democracy and reduce impunity.
- Response to INEC chairman’s remarks: Okechukwu was reacting to INEC Chairman Prof. Joash Amupitan’s call for political parties to strictly observe internal democratic principles.
- Pattern of advocacy noted: He said the INEC chairman had repeatedly stressed internal democracy in previous engagements held in Akwa Ibom and Abuja in 2026.
- Electoral integrity encourages accountability: According to Okechukwu, political parties are more likely to present popular candidates and respect the will of voters when elections are transparent.
In a statement on Sunday in Enugu, Okechukwu noted that credible elections remain the strongest antidote to intra-party impunity.
He was responding to the INEC chairman’s recent call for political parties to adhere strictly to the principles of internal democracy during a courtesy visit to former military Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, in Minna, Niger State.
According to Okechukwu, the INEC chairman has consistently emphasised the issue of internal democracy, having made similar remarks in Akwa Ibom in March 2026 and again in Abuja, in June 2026.
He said: “Whereas one agrees with the chairman that strict observance of internal democracy within political parties is of paramount importance.
“However, the greatest incentive for political parties to uphold internal democracy is the consistent conduct of free, fair, and transparent elections by INEC.”
He argued that political scientists have long maintained that political parties were more likely to respect democratic principles and popular will when electoral processes are credible and transparent.
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“Political party leaders will do everything within the ambit of the law to keep their houses in order and present the most acceptable and popular candidates when they are confident that elections will be free and fair.
“In such circumstances, they are compelled to obey the wishes of the electorate. However, when elections are perceived as lacking transparency, internal party conflicts and impunity are more likely to thrive,” he said.
Okechukwu also dismissed the allegation of other political parties feelings that INEC is the handgun of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The APC chieftain said that APC needs free and fair elections as core patriots who are committed to the genuine growth of our fledgling democracy and overall progress of every Nigerian.
“I dismiss the handgun allegation, as APC needs free and fair elections,not only for legitimacy with our 31 state governors, but for the genuine growth of our fledgling democracy and overall good governance,” he said.
He maintained that the APC remains a formidable political force and that credible elections would ultimately strengthen Nigeria’s democratic institutions and political parties alike.
