Professor of Strategy and Development, Anthony Kila, has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to carefully weigh the wider implications of its decision to delist the Mark-led leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), warning that technical correctness may still produce damaging real-world consequences.
Kila made the remarks during an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Wednesday, April 15, where he criticised what he described as a lack of practical judgment in INEC’s handling of the matter.
“I think that when INEC decides to remove the name of the chairman and secretary of the opposition party, they should think of what the consequences will be.
“You cannot say technically you are right and you don’t care about the practical consequences; that’s not commonsensical, and I mean common sense here, not the way people mean it.”
He explained that decision-making in sensitive electoral matters should not rely solely on procedural correctness but must also reflect likely political and social outcomes.
His comments come after INEC announced that it would no longer recognise communications from either of the rival ADC factions led by David Mark and Rafiu Bala, following its interpretation of a Court of Appeal judgment delivered on March 12.
Kila, however, faulted the commission’s approach, insisting that INEC appeared to be failing in its responsibilities, whether intentionally or otherwise.
Speaking further, he said the issues affecting the electoral body are both structural and administrative, adding that its current mode of operation requires urgent review.
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“The other thing that needs to be said is INEC—I think so far, so bad. The way INEC is conducting the issue: one is structural, the other is contingent. One has to do with the INEC of today, the way it’s being managed.
“I have always said that a lot of the problems we have in this country is that when we do things, we look at consequences, not sequence. There is a problem of approach and process to the way INEC does things.”
He further argued that INEC should not function merely as a regulatory announcer but as a consultative institution that engages stakeholders before making critical decisions.
“They should get political parties inside and decide it together, I believe,” he added.
Drawing comparisons with other jurisdictions, Kila said effective electoral bodies often operate quietly and efficiently, to the point of being almost invisible in public discourse.
“Other countries in the world, especially countries we emulate, the INEC leader is so invisible; INEC itself is not talked about. It’s as if they are not there—they are so efficient that they become invisible, like the air you breathe.
“Nobody talks about them unless there is trouble. If you talk about INEC in those countries, it means there is something bad going on. We need to aspire to that,” he stated.
First Daily earlier reported that, INEC, in a statement signed by its Chairman of Information and Voter Education, Mohammed Kudu, said it would no longer engage with either faction of the ADC or monitor their internal activities pending the outcome of a case before the Federal High Court.
The commission also confirmed that the name of David Mark would be removed from its official portal until the legal dispute is resolved.