Galadima Warns Tinubu: Controversial INEC Appointment Could Spark Crisis
By FIDELUS ZWANSON
THE political atmosphere grew tense on Monday as New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) chieftain, Buba Galadima, issued a stark warning to President Bola Tinubu’s administration over alleged plans to appoint a retired Court of Appeal judge as the next chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Speaking during an interview on ARISE News, Galadima claimed that the federal government was considering installing a judge “known for notoriety” to head the electoral body—a move he described as a direct threat to Nigeria’s fragile democracy.
“Come November, there are rumours all over the place that this government is nominating a just retired Court of Appeal judge who is known for notoriety to be the chairman of INEC. I wish it is not true. Because if that man becomes the chairman of INEC, be rest assured that this government is inviting a civil war in this country,” Galadima warned.
The NNPP stalwart accused the Tinubu-led administration of consistently disregarding the rule of law and manipulating state institutions for partisan advantage. He extended his criticism to the current INEC leadership, alleging that the electoral body has already been compromised in favour of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
“The INEC chairman has already rigged the election for APC. They brought somebody that was the secretary of the party that went to court for APC as acting national chairman, and he was rewarded with chairman of INEC,” Galadima alleged.
He stressed that appointing another controversial figure to lead INEC would completely erode public trust in Nigeria’s electoral process. “If this man is appointed INEC chairman, then forget about elections in Nigeria. Because there would be no elections in this country, and it will create chaos,” he said.
Galadima urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and resist any attempt to hand over the nation’s democratic future to individuals with questionable records. “We cannot allow somebody that has a record of notoriety to be imposed on us as INEC chairman,” he declared.
The allegations, though unconfirmed, highlight deepening anxieties over the independence of Nigeria’s electoral umpire and the credibility of future polls under Tinubu’s administration.
