Friday, April 3, 2026 - The Kwankwasiyya Movement has called for the immediate resignation of the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), citing what it described as growing threats to Nigeria’s democracy driven by judicial inconsistencies and the electoral body’s conduct.
In a press statement issued on April 2, 2026, and signed by
its spokesperson, Habibu Sale Mohammed, the group said the INEC chairman had
“lost the moral authority, public trust, and institutional credibility required
to continue in office”, warning that his continued stay poses a risk to
democratic stability and national unity.
The movement linked its demand to recent developments
surrounding the leadership crisis within the African Democratic Congress (ADC),
where INEC suspended recognition of factions pending judicial determination. It
argued that the situation reflects a troubling pattern of conflicting court
rulings and administrative decisions that weaken political parties and
undermine opposition platforms.
According to the group, similar disputes have affected other
major parties, including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP),
and New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), resulting in prolonged leadership crises
and institutional uncertainty.
The statement noted that these developments have eroded
internal party democracy and narrowed the political space required for a
competitive democratic system.
It further accused the judiciary of disregarding established
legal principles, including the doctrine of stare decisis, and criticised
courts of coordinate jurisdiction for issuing conflicting orders on similar
matters—an issue it said undermines judicial credibility and complicates
electoral management.
The group also faulted INEC for introducing a voter
revalidation exercise ahead of key elections, describing it as ill-timed and
potentially disenfranchising millions of eligible voters.
“This revalidation exercise bears all the hallmarks of a
systemic trap capable of suppressing voter turnout and distorting electoral
participation,” the statement said.
The Kwankwasiyya Movement warned that the combined effect of
judicial inconsistencies, internal party crises, and INEC’s actions could
undermine the credibility of the 2027 general elections.
Beyond the resignation demand, the group called for the
immediate suspension of the voter revalidation exercise and urged the National
Judicial Council (NJC) to intervene in addressing conflicting court rulings.
It also called on political actors to desist from using the
judiciary for partisan advantage and urged civil society and the international
community to remain vigilant in defending Nigeria’s democratic space.
“Democracy cannot survive where political parties are
incapacitated by judicial confusion and where the electoral umpire is perceived
to be complicit,” the statement added.
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