Former Director-General of the Voice of Nigeria (VON), Osita Okechukwu, has urged the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, to prioritise the conduct of free, fair and credible elections, arguing that credible polls remain the strongest solution to internal party impunity.
Okechukwu made the call on Sunday while reacting to the INEC chairman’s recent appeal to political parties to uphold internal democracy during a courtesy visit to former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, in Minna, Niger State.
In a statement he personally signed, the founding member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) noted that the INEC chairman had repeatedly stressed the need for political parties to strengthen internal democracy, recalling similar remarks made in Akwa Ibom in March 2026 and Abuja in June 2026.
While agreeing that internal democracy is essential to Nigeria’s democratic development, Okechukwu argued that political parties would be more inclined to respect democratic principles if they were confident that elections would be conducted transparently.
“Whereas one agrees with the Chairman that strict observance of internal democracy within political parties is of paramount importance; the greatest incentive for political parties to uphold internal democracy is the consistent conduct of free, fair and transparent elections by INEC,” he said.
READ ALSO: Igini Flags 2026 Electoral Act As Threat To Credible Elections
According to him, political parties naturally become more accountable when electoral outcomes genuinely reflect the will of the people.
“Political party leaders will do everything within the ambit of the law to keep their houses in order and present the most acceptable and popular candidates when they are confident that elections will be free and fair.
“In such circumstances, they are compelled to obey the wishes of the electorate. However, when elections are perceived as lacking transparency, internal party conflicts and impunity are more likely to thrive,” he stated.
Okechukwu also dismissed allegations by opposition parties that INEC was acting as a tool in favour of the ruling APC, insisting that the party had no interest in compromised elections.
“Certainly not,” he said. “I dismiss the handgun allegation; APC needs free and fair elections, not only for legitimacy with our 31 state governors, but for the genuine growth of our fledgling democracy and overall good governance.”
He maintained that the APC remains a strong political platform and argued that credible elections would not only strengthen the ruling party but also deepen Nigeria’s democratic institutions and improve governance across the country.