President Bola Tinubu has defended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) against claims of bias. Meanwhile, he insists the electoral body offers a level playing field for every political party.
Speaking on Tuesday, Tinubu received the leadership of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) at the State House in Abuja. The delegation, led by Archbishop Matthew Ndagoso, had urged the president to guarantee free, fair, and credible elections in 2027. In response, Tinubu dismissed concerns over INEC’s neutrality outright.
“INEC is neutral. They have never intimidated anyone,” Tinubu said. Furthermore, he suggested that his critics are reacting to their own insecurities rather than any real wrongdoing by the commission. “If political opponents are crying wolf, maybe they are afraid of their own shadows,” he added.
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According to a statement from his spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, the president stressed that every party competes on equal footing. As a result, he argued, allegations of favouritism toward the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) simply don’t hold up. Opposition leaders, however, have repeatedly accused INEC of tilting the process in the ruling party’s favour ahead of 2027. Even so, Tinubu maintained his position without hesitation.
Beyond the electoral debate, the president also addressed Nigeria’s security situation. He assured the bishops that his administration is strengthening the country’s security architecture. Specifically, he pointed to improved intelligence gathering, restructured security institutions, and better welfare for personnel. “We will defeat terrorism,” Tinubu declared. In addition, he revealed that he has approved an expansion of the armed forces, along with new equipment and barracks.
Turning to the economy, Tinubu struck an optimistic tone. He acknowledged the difficulties his administration inherited, yet he emphasized how far the country has come since then. “This government has stabilised, and there is prosperity” on the horizon, he said. Consequently, he encouraged the bishops to view the reforms as a turning point rather than a burden. He also noted that he had “inherited the assets and liabilities” of the previous administration and has been managing both ever since.
On education, Tinubu highlighted recent progress as well. He noted that more universities have been approved to meet rising demand for higher learning. Additionally, he tied this expansion to broader efforts around student funding and national development. “I believe in what you believe; we should embrace education to get out of poverty,” he told the clerics.
Throughout the meeting, the bishops pressed the president on both security and education, calling them priority areas. Tinubu, for his part, welcomed the engagement and framed it as part of an ongoing partnership between the government and religious leaders. Ultimately, he suggested that the country’s challenges are being addressed on multiple fronts at once, not in isolation.
As 2027 approaches, though, INEC’s neutrality is likely to remain a flashpoint. Opposition parties are expected to continue raising concerns, especially as campaign season intensifies. Nevertheless, Tinubu’s remarks make clear that his administration intends to defend the commission publicly and often. Whether that reassures skeptics or deepens divisions, however, remains to be seen.
For now, the president’s message is straightforward: INEC is fair, the playing field is equal, and any claims otherwise say more about the accuser than the commission itself. Given the stakes of the coming election, though, this debate is far from over.
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