A former Senator representing Kogi West and prominent African Democratic Congress (ADC) leader, Dino Melaye, has sharply criticised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), accusing it of acting as a partisan extension of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Speaking in a video posted on his X (formerly Twitter) account, Melaye alleged that INEC has deliberately misinterpreted a court order and displayed clear bias in its handling of electoral matters. He warned that such conduct has severely damaged public trust in the commission’s neutrality.
“We expect that the president will either sack them or these people will sack themselves because INEC has misinterpreted the order of the court, they have shown partiality,” Melaye said. “They have shown that they are a department of APC, and we have lost confidence in them.”
His remarks come amid escalating tensions between the ADC and INEC following the commission’s decision to delist the party from the register of political parties. The move has sparked protests from senior ADC figures, including factional Interim National Chairman David Mark, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, and Rabiu Kwankwaso, who staged a demonstration at INEC headquarters to demand the reversal of the delisting.
The dispute highlights growing concerns over INEC’s perceived impartiality ahead of upcoming elections, with opposition parties increasingly questioning the commission’s independence. Calls for accountability within INEC have intensified, with some political leaders urging President Bola Tinubu to intervene and restore confidence in the electoral process.
The controversy underscores the fragile state of Nigeria’s democratic institutions and the high stakes involved as the country approaches a critical phase in its political calendar.
