The Northern Obidient Youth Assembly (NOYA) has levelled serious accusations against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), alleging that the electoral body has become a tool for sabotaging Nigeria’s democracy by enabling corruption and elite manipulation within its internal processes.
In a statement released by its National Coordinator, Abdullahi Suleiman, the group condemned INEC’s frequent publication of “Amended List of Candidates Pursuant to Court Order” on its official website. Rather than serving as an instrument of transparency, Suleiman argued that the practice has turned into a mechanism for systematic electoral manipulation.
According to NOYA, INEC no longer operates as an impartial electoral umpire. Instead, it has allegedly succumbed to political pressure and internal corruption, thereby compromising the integrity of Nigeria’s democratic system.
“Legitimately nominated candidates are either excluded or arbitrarily replaced on party lists in clear violation of internal party procedures and democratic norms—only to be reinstated after prolonged legal battles,” Suleiman stated.
He emphasized that these issues go beyond administrative oversight, describing them as deliberate acts designed to derail certain candidates by burdening them with avoidable court cases.
“These moves are not coincidental errors. They are carefully orchestrated attempts to weaken and frustrate candidates who do not enjoy the backing of political godfathers. The goal is to drain them financially and mentally before they can even get to the ballot,” he said.
Suleiman further alleged that some INEC insiders are running a corrupt enterprise, where candidate lists are altered in exchange for massive bribes. He claimed that tens of millions of naira are reportedly exchanged to manipulate the lists despite knowing the judiciary will likely reverse such decisions.
“But by the time court judgments are delivered, it is often too late. The political damage is already done. The corrected names appear when campaigns are nearly over or elections are imminent, making meaningful participation impossible,” he added. “It has become a profit-motivated racket, eroding public confidence in the democratic process.”
He also took a swipe at the judiciary, stating that it has been reduced to a repair shop for a broken system—only stepping in to clean up the mess left by a compromised electoral body. Suleiman warned of the emergence of a dual justice system: one for the affluent and well-connected, and another for ordinary candidates unable to afford protracted legal proceedings.
NOYA is now calling for immediate and decisive action to address what it describes as state-sponsored electoral sabotage. The group urged the National Assembly to launch a comprehensive probe into INEC’s candidate list amendments, especially those overturned by courts.
They demanded:
- Forensic audits to trace any suspicious financial activity connected to the manipulation of candidate lists.
- Criminal investigations into INEC officials allegedly involved in the scheme.
- Leadership accountability to restore faith in the commission’s independence.
“If these practices are allowed to continue, Nigerian elections will lose all credibility. Backroom deals will replace ballot decisions, and the courtroom will become the new arena for winning mandates,” Suleiman warned.
He concluded with a passionate appeal:
“The Nigerian people deserve a democracy where elections are fair, transparent, and credible. A democracy cannot thrive when those charged with officiating it are on the payroll of the very players they are meant to regulate.”
