2027: INEC interference in electoral process claims not true – Senator Kalu

Claims by the opposition political parties that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC was doing the bidding of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu by undermining activities of the opposition political parties were untrue, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu representing Abia North Senatorial District has said.

The opposition parties have been hit with leadership crisis got them engaged in legal fireworks in Court in recent months which they have heaped blames on the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC of manipulating INEC to frustrate them.

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Kalu aid said, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, remains an autonomous institution deserving of respect.

Speaking with members of the Senate Press Corps at the National Assembly in Abuja on Monday during activities marking his 66th birthday, the former Abia State governor described claims by opposition elements, including the African Democratic Congress, ADC, as “frivolous” and harmful to Nigeria’s democratic image.

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According to him, the APC has no control over INEC, stressing that the electoral umpire, under the leadership of Professor Joash Amupitan , operates independently.

Kalu said: “The APC as a party has nothing to do with INEC. INEC is an independent body and we have a lot of respect for the Chairman of INEC. He is an erudite Professor of Law… So, let us stop this frivolity. People should take the electoral process and democracy seriously instead of de-marketing the country ”.

The lawmaker also rejected insinuations that the ruling party is coercing politicians, particularly governors, to defect into its fold. He maintained that party membership remains a matter of personal choice and negotiation, noting that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has never pressured anyone to join the APC.

“President Tinubu has never begged anybody to leave his party or to join our party… If a governor decides to join APC, that is his business. When you come, we negotiate; if it is good, you stay; if not, you go your way. Nobody is forcing anybody,” he stated.

On permutations ahead of the 2027 general elections, particularly speculations that the Senate Presidency may be zoned to the South East, Kalu said he was unaware of any such arrangement, describing zoning decisions as the exclusive prerogative of party leadership. While not ruling himself out, he emphasized that he is not lobbying for any position.

“I’m not aware of that. It is for the leadership of the party to decide. If anything is given to me, I will take, but I’m not going out of my way to look for anything,” he said.

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