Leadership coach and political activist, Adetokunbo Olufela Durotoye, has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of being the main obstacle to democracy in Nigeria.
He made the claim during an interview on The Exchange Podcast, where he alleged that INEC deliberately frustrates voters in order to protect the political establishment.
According to Durotoye, the electoral body uses administrative rules to stop Nigerians from fully taking part in elections, making it a bigger problem than politicians themselves.
He criticised INEC’s continued use of the Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC), saying it is unnecessary in an era where voters’ biometrics and facial data are already available.
“There is no technical reason to insist on physical voter cards. The PVC is being used to reduce voter turnout, not to protect the vote,” he said.
Durotoye also described the voter registration process as slow and unfriendly, especially for young Nigerians who want to participate in elections.
He argued that these challenges mostly affect citizens outside the political elite, whom he said are seen as a threat by those in power.
“The people being blocked are those outside the establishment,” he stated.
He further raised concerns about accountability within INEC, claiming that officials accused of election misconduct are rarely punished.
“Until individuals are prosecuted and sent to jail for compromising elections, nothing will change,” Durotoye said.
The activist also warned that frequent defections by politicians could push Nigeria toward a one-party system, reducing voters’ choices and weakening accountability.
Despite these challenges, he said recent elections have shown that the political elite is not untouchable.
Durotoye expressed optimism that increased civic participation by previously inactive voters would eventually bring meaningful change.
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