The Northern Obidient Youth Assembly (NOYA) has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of sabotaging Nigeria’s democracy by turning its internal processes into a bribe-fuelled racket designed to favour political elites.
In a statement issued by its Coordinator, Abdullahi Suleiman, the group said INEC’s practice of publishing “Amended List of Candidates Pursuant to Court Order” on its website has become a tool of systemic manipulation, not transparency.
Suleiman alleged that the electoral body no longer acts as a neutral umpire but has been compromised by deep-seated political interference and internal corruption.
“Lawfully nominated candidates are either omitted or replaced on party lists in violation of internal party democracy, only to be reinstated later by court rulings,” he said.
He argued that these incidents were not mere administrative errors but part of a calculated scheme to frustrate certain candidates through legal hurdles.
“These are politically influenced moves that force candidates into costly and time-consuming legal battles just to reclaim their rightful positions,” Suleiman said.
He further alleged that the scheme has become a revenue-generating operation for corrupt officials within INEC, who allegedly collect tens of millions of naira in bribes to tamper with candidate lists—knowing full well that the courts will eventually intervene.
“But by the time court rulings are obtained, the political damage is often irreversible.
“The corrected names often appear so late that meaningful participation in elections becomes nearly impossible. It is a profit-driven racket at the expense of democracy,” he stated.
Suleiman accused the judiciary of being reduced to a “repair centre” for a broken system, warning that Nigeria now operates a two-tier justice system—one that works for the wealthy and connected, and another for candidates who cannot afford extended legal battles.
NOYA demanded urgent action to address what it described as state-enabled electoral sabotage.
The group called on the National Assembly to open a comprehensive investigation into repeated judicial reversals of INEC’s decisions, including forensic audits to trace potential financial inducements behind the manipulations.
They also called for criminal investigations into INEC officials allegedly involved in the scheme, urging that leadership must be held accountable for any complicity.
“If this practice continues unchecked, Nigerian elections will remain a charade, where backroom deals override ballots, and courtrooms become the new battleground for electoral mandates,” Suleiman warned.
He concluded by stating, “The Nigerian people deserve better. Democracy cannot survive when its referees are on the payroll of the players.”