Osita Okechukwu
The former Director-General of the Voice of Nigeria (VON), and a Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Osita Okechukwu, has advised the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, to focus on ensuring the conduct of free, fair, and credible elections in 2027.
In a press release issued on Sunday in Enugu, Okechukwu stated that credible elections remained the strongest antidote to intra-party impunity. Okechukwu was reacting to the INEC Chairman’s recent call on political parties to adhere strictly to principles of internal democracy during a courtesy visit to former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, in Minna, Niger.
He said that the INEC Chairman has consistently emphasised the issue of internal democracy, having made similar remarks in Akwa Ibom in March 2026 and repeated it in Abuja in June 2026.
“Whereas one agrees with the Chairman that strict observance of internal democracy within political parties is of paramount importance. However, the greatest incentive for political parties to uphold internal democracy is the consistent conduct of free, fair, and transparent elections by INEC,” he explained.
Okechukwu insisted that political scientists had long maintained that political parties were more likely to respect democratic principles and popular will when electoral processes are credible and transparent.
According to him, “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 said.
The former DG of VON also dismissed the allegation of other political parties feeling that INEC “is the handgun” of the All Progressives Congress (APC). He said that the APC needed free and fair elections as core patriots who are committed to the genuine growth of our fledgling democracy and overall progress of every Nigerian.
He said: “I dismiss the handgun allegation, as the APC needs free and fair elections, not only for legitimacy with our 31 state governors, but for the genuine growth of our fledgling democracy.”
The APC Chieftain insisted that the APC remained a formidable political force and that credible elections would ultimately strengthen Nigeria’s democratic institutions and political parties alike.
