CSOs and Youth Councils Back INEC for 2027 Elections

On Thursday, civil society organizations and youth councils in Nigeria publicly supported the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and its chairman, urging political parties to resolve their internal disputes without distracting the electoral body as the 2027 general elections approach. This declaration occurred during a solidarity event at INEC headquarters, following a press conference led by Ambassador Bless Akinlosotu, the executive director of the National Civil Society Council of Nigeria (NCSCN).

Akinlosotu emphasized that ongoing protests against INEC by factions within political parties, such as the David Mark and Nafiu Bala factions, are unnecessary distractions. Babangida Isah, president of the National Youth Council of Nigeria, stated that Nigerian youth should not allow INEC to be drawn into partisan politics, highlighting the importance of INEC's independence.

Jethro Annum from the Nigerian Youth Congress described INEC as a regulatory umpire essential for overseeing elections. The article also mentions ongoing internal crises within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) that have been taken to court, which further complicates the political landscape as the elections approach.