Sam Amadi declares that any politician aiming for Nigeria’s presidency in 2027 must first focus on reforming INEC. His remarks follow APC’s Monday Okpebholo’s victory in the Edo gubernatorial election, amidst claims of electoral misconduct.
Sam Amadi, Director of the Abuja School of Social and Political Thoughts, has stirred political discourse with a bold statement regarding Nigeria’s future leadership. Following the declaration of Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the Edo State governorship election, Amadi opined that any politician eyeing the presidency in 2027 without prioritizing reform of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is simply “not serious.”
Amadi’s comment, posted on X (formerly Twitter), reflects rising concerns about the credibility of INEC and its role in Nigeria’s elections. He emphasized that electoral reforms must precede any serious political ambition, particularly for those aspiring to the presidency.
The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has also voiced its dissatisfaction with the Edo governorship election results, with the party’s collation agent, Tony Iyoha, accusing INEC of deliberately delaying results in Oredo and Ikpoba-Okha local councils to manipulate figures.
Amadi, who previously served as the CEO of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), had consistently argued that INEC’s structure and management are at the core of Nigeria’s electoral challenges. He criticized the silence of opposition leaders like Atiku Abubakar of the PDP and Peter Obi of the Labour Party, stressing that neither is pushing for crucial reforms in the electoral system.
Amadi’s remarks further fuel ongoing debates about electoral transparency in Nigeria. He suggests that any presidential ambitions should be secondary to addressing the flaws in Nigeria’s electoral process, particularly the role of INEC. Without substantial reform, Amadi believes that the country will continue to witness flawed elections, undermining the essence of democracy.
