NNPP urges INEC to prioritize restoring public confidence over party disputes

2026-03-04 - 17:18

By Henry Umoru ABUJA — The National Working Committee (NWC) of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has said internal party disputes, while significant, are secondary to the larger crisis of public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process. The party urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to focus on reforms that restore trust in the vote. Speaking with journalists, NNPP National Publicity Secretary, Bamofin Ladipo Johnson, acknowledged that legal battles arising from party infighting can strain INEC’s resources. However, he insisted that voter apathy driven by skepticism over electoral integrity poses a far greater threat to Nigerian democracy. Johnson said, “While administrative hurdles are real, the greatest cause of voter apathy is not internal party friction; it is the widespread perception that INEC is complicit in subverting the will of the people. Until INEC demonstrates absolute transparency and proves it is an unbiased arbiter, no amount of internal party stability will bring Nigerians back to the polling units.” Senator Victor Umeh of the Labour Party representing Anambra Central echoed the view, stressing that credible elections are essential to restoring citizens’ interest. “The Commission can only resurrect citizens’ interest in elections if it conducts credible elections. The public has lost confidence due to lack of transparency,” he said. Senator Neda Imasuen, APC, Edo South, agreed that party infighting can be a distraction for INEC. “Most internal party crises end up in courts, giving conflicting judgments that leave INEC in limbo. Persistent party disputes create voter apathy as political affiliations are unsettled, causing many to stay away from the polls,” he explained. The NNPP’s position underscores a growing concern among political stakeholders that strengthening internal party democracy, while important, must be complemented by transparent electoral processes to rebuild trust in Nigeria’s democracy.