Human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has expressed doubts about the independence of Nigeria’s electoral body ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Speaking at the LJE News Leadership Dialogue on Friday, Sowore said the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) remains effectively under the influence of the administration of President Bola Tinubu.

He argued that the current INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, may find it difficult to depart from the pattern of his predecessors due to what he described as systemic constraints.

“I met him (Amupitan) in person, and it is by miracle that Amupitan will do something different from his predecessors because it is a system,” Sowore said.

The activist questioned the neutrality of the electoral commission, alleging that key appointments surrounding the INEC chairman remain under the control of the ruling government.

“Who appointed his Chief of Staff for him? Who appointed his spokesperson for him? It is still the Tinubu government. Who appointed his DSS and the police details? It is the ruling government,” he stated.

According to Sowore, the structure of Nigeria’s electoral system makes it nearly impossible for any INEC chairman to operate with full independence.

“It is also the ruling government that appointed all the INEC commissioners before he came. It is the ruling government that appointed the state commissioners that he has now. Amupitan by himself cannot do anything different,” he added.

Sowore maintained that meaningful electoral reform would require active citizen participation rather than reliance on institutional changes alone.

“If people don't want elections to be rigged, there must be mass participation… Voters have to vote and risk their lives to stay around to make sure that the election results are not rigged,” he said.

He described the process of achieving credible elections as “revolution by the ballot.”

Meanwhile, upon assuming office, Amupitan had pledged to rebuild public confidence in INEC by strengthening transparency in result collation and transmission, improving the use of technology, and ensuring strict compliance with the Electoral Act.

However, Sowore’s comments highlight growing skepticism among some opposition figures and civil society actors about whether such reforms can succeed within what they describe as a politically constrained environment.

The remarks come amid nationwide reactions to President Tinubu’s recent signing of the Electoral Act 2022 (Repeal and Re-Enactment) Bill 2026.

The bill was passed by the National Assembly following months of deliberations and intense debate, particularly over Clause 60, which addresses the electronic transmission of election results.

During Senate proceedings, Senate President Godswill Akpabio presided over a tense session after Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe demanded a division on the controversial clause, exposing sharp divisions among lawmakers.