The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been accused by Nigerian lawyer and Nollywood actor Kenneth Okonkwo of purposefully harming opposition activities in the nation’s political environment.
In a statement that highlights mounting worries about election fairness in Nigeria, Okonkwo asserted on Monday, June 9, on Arise Television that INEC is essentially functioning as a branch of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Okonkwo accused the electoral authority of putting up “a lot of roadblocks for the opposition and engaging in a lot of obstacles,” claiming that INEC is a division of the APC.
He insisted that the current system is rigged against genuine political competition, particularly for groups seeking to challenge the APC-led government.
Okonkwo also addressed rumours that a coalition of opposition forces, spearheaded by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, is already facing internal cracks.
He dismissed these claims, asserting that the group remains united in its mission to unseat President Bola Tinubu.
“Well, a coalition is a group of interested parties that come together for a common goal. “Nigerians like formulating stories, which I call market talk. How can something be in disarray when it has not yet started?” Okonkwo said.
According to Okonkwo, all political heavyweights involved in the coalition currently share one objective: to remove the APC-led government from power.
“People are talking, and some opponents are already selling to you that it’s in disarray. What we have now is common priorities; we don’t have individual differences because the time for individual ambitions has not commenced,” he noted
Okonkwo further revealed that the coalition is considering forming a new political party but remains wary of INEC’s tactics.
“If we are in a nation where the rule of law is guaranteed under this kind of INEC, it would have been preferred to have a new party altogether.
“But when INEC has the tendencies of delaying what is apparent, you can’t throw all your eggs in one basket,” he said.
His remarks come amid growing scrutiny of INEC’s conduct ahead of the 2027 elections, as opposition parties weigh their options in what many see as a high-stakes political contest.
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