The National Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Dr Yusuf Dantalle, has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s remarks on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), saying the President should allow the electoral body to defend its credibility and performance.
Dantalle made the comments while speaking on ARISE News on Wednesday, where he argued that although President Tinubu has the right to express his views as a Nigerian, his position as the nation’s leader requires him to remain above partisan interests.
His reaction followed President Tinubu’s remarks on July 29, 2026, while receiving the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria at the State House in Abuja, where the President described INEC as a neutral institution and dismissed claims of electoral bias.
Tinubu had said those raising allegations against the commission may be “afraid of their own shadows” and should not fear political competition.
Responding on ARISE News, Dantalle said the President should not be seen as speaking for INEC because the commission is responsible for explaining its own actions.
“First, he’s a Nigerian and he’s entitled to his opinion about the electoral umpire. But as the President of Nigeria, you are the President of both your party and the party in opposition, and that of INEC.”
Dantalle added:
“While the President is not the spokesperson of INEC and doesn’t work in INEC, I do not agree with the President making such remarks, because he is not the spokesperson of INEC.
”IPAC would not make such statements, but allow INEC to defend itself.”
The IPAC chairman said the council would continue to engage with INEC and assess its readiness ahead of future elections, noting that the outcome of the mock accreditation exercise and other assessments would help determine the commission’s preparedness.
He stressed that IPAC’s concerns were not directed at INEC as an institution but at the legal framework under which it operates.
“Our problem is not with INEC as a body, but the laws with which INEC is operating within, ” he said.
Dantalle said IPAC had submitted recommendations to the National Assembly’s Joint Committee on constitutional and electoral reforms, arguing that lasting solutions must address the root causes of electoral challenges.
He also rejected claims that IPAC was accusing INEC of intimidation, saying the priority was to ensure the commission operates independently.
“I will not use the word intimidation. INEC doesn’t intimidate people, but INEC should be seen to do the bidding of what the Constitution and the Electoral Act mandate INEC to do, freely and fairly.”
The IPAC chairman renewed calls for reforms that would remove executive influence from the appointment of INEC leadership and strengthen the commission’s independence.
“The appointment of the INEC Chairman and the National Commissioners of INEC should be taken away by the Constitution from the executive. So that INEC will be fully independent.”
Dantalle argued that the current system creates concerns because the President, who appoints INEC leadership, is also a political actor seeking electoral support.
He further called for continuous voter registration, warning that stopping the process before elections could deny millions of newly eligible Nigerians the opportunity to vote.
“If you shut down the registration of voters today, so many Nigerians will turn 18 tomorrow, so many Nigerians will turn 18 next year.”
He added: ”By implication, a lot of Nigerians will be disenfranchised by these policies. So for us, registration of voters should be a continuous exercise.”
Dantalle said IPAC would continue engaging stakeholders to promote reforms aimed at improving transparency, independence and public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral system.
