A prominent chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Bode George, has cautioned the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, that Nigerians will no longer accept excuses of technical failures during elections.
George issued the warning on Monday while speaking as a guest on Politics Today, a political affairs programme aired on Channels Television. His comments come at a time when preparations and political calculations are gradually building ahead of the 2027 general elections, with citizens demanding greater transparency, accountability, and credibility from the nation’s electoral process.
The elder statesman urged the newly appointed INEC chairman to learn from the shortcomings of the 2023 general elections and ensure that such lapses are not repeated. According to him, the persistent reference to “glitches” in election technology has severely eroded public trust in the electoral system.
Recalling previous elections, George noted that despite the procurement of modern electoral tools, Nigerians were repeatedly told that technical problems disrupted the process. “We remember the last election. The necessary equipment was provided, yet we were told there was a glitch. That explanation is no longer acceptable,” he said.
He warned that what many Nigerians perceive as deliberate errors or avoidable system failures must be decisively addressed. George stressed that INEC must put in place robust safeguards to ensure that election technology functions seamlessly and that results reflect the true will of the people.
Emphasising accountability, he added, “If we are serious about democracy, then we must go back to basics. Professor Amupitan must ensure there are no excuses, no glitches, and no failures in the system.”
Meanwhile, concerns about transparency within the electoral body have been further heightened by recent allegations raised by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP). About a month ago, the organisation called on Professor Amupitan to account for an alleged ₦55.9 billion reportedly missing or diverted from funds allocated for election materials during the 2019 general elections.
According to SERAP, the allegations were detailed in the latest annual report released by the Auditor-General on 9 September 2025. The funds in question were reportedly meant for the procurement of smart card readers, ballot papers, result sheets, and other critical electoral materials.
In addition to demanding a full account of the funds, SERAP urged the INEC chairman to disclose the identities of contractors allegedly involved in the transactions. The organisation requested information on the contractors’ directors, shareholders, and business addresses, insisting that transparency is essential to restoring public confidence in the electoral process.
SERAP further called on INEC to refer the matter to relevant anti-corruption agencies for investigation and prosecution where necessary, as well as to ensure the recovery of any misappropriated funds.
In a letter dated 6 December 2025 and signed by SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the group stressed that INEC must be free from corruption if it is to effectively protect Nigerians’ constitutional right to participate in governance.
The organisation warned that allegations of corruption linked to the supply of electoral materials strike at the heart of democracy, as they undermine the credibility of elections and deny citizens the right to free, fair, and transparent polls.
As the countdown to 2027 continues, both political leaders and civil society groups are intensifying calls for reforms, accountability, and flawless electoral administration, insisting that Nigeria’s democracy can no longer afford excuses or failures.
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