Social Democratic Party (SDP) presidential candidate Adewale Adebayo has said Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is not responsible for deciding whether political candidates are qualified to contest elections.
Speaking during a televised political programme on Sunday, Adebayo explained that INEC’s constitutional role is to receive the names of candidates submitted by political parties and publish them for public scrutiny. He argued that the commission should not be expected to investigate or verify the credentials presented by aspirants.
According to him, any concerns about false declarations or a candidate’s eligibility should be addressed by citizens, political opponents and the courts through the legal process rather than by the electoral commission.
Adebayo compared INEC’s role to that of a public service institution responsible for receiving and making information available to Nigerians, stressing that it should remain neutral in the electoral process.
Responding to reports of internal disagreements within the SDP after his name appeared on INEC’s list of presidential candidates, Adebayo dismissed the claims. He maintained that the party’s nomination process was peaceful, transparent and conducted according to its rules.
He noted that INEC also published the names of the party’s vice-presidential candidate, over 100 senatorial candidates and hundreds of House of Representatives candidates as part of the routine release of candidates for the 2027 general elections.
Looking ahead to the 2027 polls, Adebayo urged Nigerians to focus on issues that directly affect their lives rather than political controversies. He identified poverty, insecurity, economic hardship and governance as the key challenges voters should consider when assessing those seeking public office.
His remarks come as political parties continue preparations for the 2027 general elections, with debates over candidate qualifications and party nominations expected to remain central issues in Nigeria’s political landscape.
As election activities gather momentum, analysts say discussions over the respective roles of political parties, the electoral commission and the judiciary are likely to shape public confidence in the country’s democratic process.
