Yakubu acknowledged a decade of setbacks due to litigation, violence, logistical failures at INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) acknowledged that Nigeria’s electoral process between 2015 and 2025 was hit by repeated crises that consistently undermined the credibility of elections – despite years of reform, innovation and investment in technology.

In a revealing foreword to the Commission’s latest publication entitled Election Management in Nigeria: 2015–2025, former INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, provides a frank assessment of a decade marked by legal chaos, political violence and logistical paralysis.

“The 2015-2025 decade has not been without challenges. Conflicting court orders, violence directed at our staff and facilities, the scourge of vote trading, and persistent logistical bottlenecks continue to test the credibility and smoothness of elections,” Yakubu said.

He lamented that the commission was drawn into thousands of court cases before and after the election, often faced with conflicting decisions from courts of the same jurisdiction – a situation that not only hampered preparations but also eroded public trust in the system.

Apart from the legal battle, Yakubu said the electoral body faces incessant violence from political actors and criminal elements. Dozens of INEC offices were burned across the country, election officials attacked, and sensitive materials destroyed, sometimes days before the scheduled poll.

Logistical setbacks also dogged the commission throughout the decade. From a shortage of ballot papers to transport network failures, and even last-minute delays, Yakubu said these failures have repeatedly raised questions about INEC’s readiness and operational capacity.

He further acknowledged that despite technological reforms – including the Bi-Modal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), the INEC Voter Registration Device (IVED), and the INEC Results Viewing Portal (IReV) – the commission’s operations still remain not immune to human error, sabotage, or network collapses.

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While acknowledging that technology has increased transparency, Yakubu said technology cannot by itself solve systemic problems rooted in Nigeria’s political culture, weak institutions and poor security environment.

“This commission must fully accept both successes and failures. We must intensify confidence-building measures, expand inclusivity, and remain proactive in addressing potential threats to our elections,” Yakubu warned.

He added that INEC must improve voter education, deepen collaboration with security agencies, and increase access for vulnerable groups to ensure that the democratic process remains inclusive and credible.

This 200-page book, rich in photo illustrations and infographics, tells how Nigeria’s electoral history in recent decades has been repeatedly shaken by confusion caused by trials, logistical glitches, violence and technical failures – but also by gradual improvements in transparency through technology.

Ultimately, Yakubu’s story serves as both a critique and a warning – a story that underscores the fragile balance between progress and setbacks in Nigeria’s efforts to produce credible elections.