Challenges wey Inec chairmen don face since Nigeria return to democracy for 1999
Wia dis foto come from, Getty Images
Di Independent National Electoral Commission (Inec) don get six chairmen since Nigeria return to democracy for 1999.
Since di Fourth Republic, Inec don face different challenges, including political interference, legal and security wahala, logistics problems, and even low administrative budget.
But each of di six chairmen wey lead di commission also get dia own wahala apart from di common ones.
We examine di different challenges wey each Inec chairman face during dia time as head of di commission.
Professor Joash Amupitan - 2025
Wia dis foto come from, Facebook/INEC
For October 2025, Nigeria President Bola Ahmed Tinubu appoint Professor Joash Amupitan as Chairman of di Independent National Electoral Commission (Inec), afta Professor Mahmood Yakubu complete im 10-year tenure as head of di commission.
Unlike di former chairmen bifor am, Professor Amupitan face major challenges from di day wey dem appoint am, as leaders of political parties, religious groups and different communities criticise am.
- Complex court cases
One of di biggest challenges wey Professor Amupitan dey face na di complex court cases involving political parties, wey don confuse Inec.
Di following week, one Federal High Court for Lokoja, Kogi State, order Inec make dem remove NDC from di list of parties wey go contest di 2027 elections, somtin wey cause controversy and confusion.
Opposition ADC party too enta confusion afta Inec announce say Senator David Mark no be di ADC chairman following one court ruling afta disagreement between David Mark and Nafi'u Gombe faction.
Oda opposition parties like PDP and LP too dey face legal battles as two factions for each party present different presidential and vice-presidential candidates.
- Secret code for candidates
Di mata of giving political parties secret codes to submit di names of dia candidates for di 2027 elections too don attract attention to Inec.
At first, Inec say dem go release di secret codes on June 26, but dat one no happun. Later Inec say dem go release di codes on Monday.
- Complaints from religious groups
Di Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs, led by Dr Bashir Umar, express disappointment over di Federal Government refusal to listen to Muslim groups wey dey call for Professor Amupitan removal.
SCSIAN tok say Amupitan dey among di pipo wey "write letter to di United States" wey later make Nigeria get labelled as kontri wia "dem dey kpai Christians".
- Allegation say na APC member
For Friday, April 11, popular writer Professor Farooq Kperogi publish wetin many Nigerians see as expose about Inec Chairman Professor Amupitan.
For im X page, Professor Kperogi say afta years of monitoring Amupitan social media posts, e discova say di pesin wey dem appoint to lead Inec na "APC member" and supporter of President Tinubu.
Kperogi refer to several strong statements wey di Inec chairman allegedly make concerning President Tinubu.
But Inec later clear di mata and tell Nigerians make dem ignore di false information wey pipo dey spread about Professor Amupitan.
Professor Mahmood Yakubu, 2015 - 2025
Wia dis foto come from, Getty Images
For November 9, 2015, former Nigeria President, di late Muhammadu Buhari, appoint Professor Mahmood Yakubu as chairman of Inec afta Professor Attahiru Jega complete im tenure.
During im 10 years, Yakubu face several major challenges, including:
- Plenti election court cases and conflicting judgments: Inec face thousands of election-related cases wey leave di commission confused.
- Political interference: Politicians and authorities interfere wit Inec work, making many Nigerians doubt di credibility of elections.
- Problems wit voting machines: Issues wit BVAS for voter accreditation and IReV for live transmission of results make many pipo lose confidence in transparent elections.
- Equipment problems and poor planning: Dis one cause delays and cancellation of some elections.
- Security challenges and violence: Electoral offices and staff suffer attacks, while election materials get destroyed.
Professor Attahiru Jega, 2010 - 2015
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Professor Attahiru Jega become Inec chairman under former President Goodluck Jonathan for 2010.
Jega spend five years leading di commission and supervise di 2011 and 2015 general elections.
Like oda chairmen, Jega too face several challenges.
- Political interference: Politicians and govment officials interfere wit election process, raising doubts about election credibility. Even during 2015 result collation, some officials bin try stop di process.
- Election equipment problems: Inec struggle wit Card Reader technology wey dem newly introduce for voter verification.
- Election violence: Di 2011 elections witness post-election violence for some states, leading to loss of lives and property.
- Security concerns: During preparations for di 2015 elections, Boko Haram threat affect di northeast.
- Court cases: Political parties and candidates file several cases afta di elections becos of dissatisfaction wit results.
Maurice Iwu, 2005 - 2010
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo appoint Professor Maurice Iwu as Inec chairman from June 2005 to April 2010.
Like odas after am, Professor Iwu face several challenges.
- Allegations of election rigging during di 2007 elections: Di 2007 elections bicom one of di most controversial elections for Nigeria history, wit allegations of rigging, manipulation and irregularities. Local and international observers describe di elections as flawed.
Oda problems include:
- Pressure from politicians.
- Plenti court cases afta di elections.
- Weak management system.
- Criticism from international observers.
Abel Guobadia, 2000 - 2005
Sir Abel Guobadia supervise di 2003 general elections wey former President Olusegun Obasanjo win.
Like other Inec chairmen, e also face several challenges.
- Political interference: At di end of im tenure, Sir Guobadia say govment officials no allow Inec do dia work freely.
- Election fraud: Local and international observers describe di 2003 elections as full of irregularities.
- Corruption and bribery: Abel repeatedly tok say corruption and bribery happun among electoral officials.
- Complaints from political groups: Like di current chairman, Abel too struggle wit political groups wey take Inec go court ova registration matas.
Ephraim Akpata, 1998 - 2000
Ephraim Omorose Ibukun Akpata serve as Inec Chairman under former military Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, from 1998 to January 2000.
Na under im leadership dem register nine political parties out of 26 groups wey apply, paving way for di 1999 general elections.
Di challenges wey Ephraim face include:
- Preparing for elections within short time
- Inadequate voter registration
- Equipment problems
- Public dissatisfaction
- Interference and pressure from military authorities and politicians
