As preparations for the 2027 general elections gather momentum, legal practitioners in Rivers State have called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to strengthen its independence by ensuring a free, fair and credible elections.

The lawyers, who spoke in separate interviews with The Tide in Port Harcourt, also called for equal treatment for all political parties, especially, in Rivers State.

The legal practitioners raised  concerns ahead of the elections, highlighting issues including INEC’s independence, equal treatment for political parties, compliance with electoral laws, the use of technology and voters’ confidence in the electoral process.

One of the lawyers, Waribere Sowunmi, expressed strong doubts about INEC’s ability to conduct a free and fair election, saying, “INEC in this country cannot conduct a free and fair election. It’s not possible.”

Sowunmi said INEC was expected to be independent in the discharge of its duties but expressed concern about whether the Commission would maintain that independence during the election.

“INEC, in the real sense, ought to be independent, as the name applies. But I’m afraid whether they can be independent in the forthcoming election,” he said.

According to him, the lack of confidence in the electoral process has also affected voters’ interest in elections.

“Voters have lost interest in the system because nothing is happening. They are not interested in the system because the system itself is not helping,” he said.

Another, Carol Oluchukwu, also expressed concern about the credibility of the electoral process, owing to what she described as corruption within the system.

Her words: “Oh, still corruption. It is still corruption.”

Oluchukwu alleged that some election results had been manipulated and Nigerians often do not get results that reflect how they voted.

“But the votes in Nigeria don’t count. You can bear me witness, citizens will vote, INEC will do what they want to do. You understand? So, what we are getting is not exactly what we voted,” she said.

She, however, urged Nigerians not to give up on the electoral process, advising voters to still come out and exercise their franchise.

For Nathaniel Alasea, the major issue is not the absence of electoral laws but their implementation.

“Obey the law, execute and implement the law as it is,” Alasea said.

He urged the electoral authority to apply the law without favour and called on political parties to participate in the process despite possible threats or intimidation.

Also responding, Anslem E.K. said INEC must remain impartial and provide a level playing field for all political parties participating in the elections.

“My expectation would be that INEC, as the name goes, should be impartial in whatever thing they do and should try as much as possible to have a level playing ground for all parties,” he said.

He also called for the effective use of technology in the electoral process, stressing that election results should be declared in real time.

“We should start by making sure that all the apparatuses we are going to deploy will all function optimally and results will be declared real time,” he said.

Meanwhile, Chris Alele called for greater use of technology in the transmission of election results, saying it could help improve public confidence in the electoral process.

Alele said “real-time electronic transmission of results would increase public confidence and reduce fears of electoral manipulation.”

He referred to the Nigerian Bar Association’s online voting system as an example, explaining that voters can see results as they are generated. He said a similar level of transparency in the electoral process could help Nigerians have greater confidence that their votes have been properly counted.

However, he expressed concern about possible network failures and the consequences for electronic transmission of results. He therefore urged INEC to strengthen its technological systems to ensure that results are transmitted electronically and promptly.

Alele also called for greater voter education and the timely distribution of election materials, noting that delays could result in different polling units starting the voting process at different times.

On his part, Sonny Batta likened INEC’s role to that of a referee, saying, “It should not be that when they come to me, they shift the posts. It’s as though they are shifting the posts, as if the referee now will come and play in the pitch.”

Batta stressed that the electoral umpire must remain neutral and ensure that no candidate or political party is given an unfair advantage.

With concerns over independence, transparency, technology and public confidence remaining prominent, the lawyers said the credibility of the 2027 presidential election would depend largely on INEC’s ability to apply the electoral laws fairly and ensure that the votes of Nigerians are properly counted and reflected in the final results.

Adeniyi Victoria,/ Leyira Majesty/Godslove Justice

Ahead of the 2027 general elections, the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has warned that judges appointed to election tribunals would be closely monitored.

Speaking during the flag-off ceremony of the 2026/2027 legal year of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) on Wednesday, the CJN, who noted that some judges of the court could be called upon to serve as members of election petition tribunals, said the nature of such an assignment demanded a great degree of impartiality and restraint.

She equally implored lawyers to avoid duplicating court actions, which could lead to conflicting judgments capable of not only damaging public confidence but also exposing the judiciary to disrepute.

The CJN maintained that the court must remain intellectually prepared to meet modern-day challenges, while ensuring that its decisions remained firmly anchored in the Constitution, applicable legislation, binding precedent and established principles of judicial reasoning.

She said: “As we approach another electoral season, these responsibilities assume even greater importance.

“Some of Your Lordships may, in accordance with the applicable constitutional and legal framework, be called upon to serve as members of Election Petition Tribunals.

“In that capacity, Your Lordships will be called upon to decide politically sensitive disputes which attract considerable public attention.

“The nature of such assignments therefore demands an even greater degree of impartiality, restraint and detachment.

“Whether sitting in this Court or performing a Tribunal assignment, you must remain conscious that your conduct will be closely scrutinized.

“You must ensure that nothing in your associations, public engagements or other conduct creates a reasonable perception of political alignment or predisposition.

“The Bar must never become an instrument through which the judicial process is manipulated for partisan or strategic purposes.

“The proper forum is determined by law, not by the perceived likelihood of success before a particular Judge or court.

“There is also a need for restraint in public commentary. The right to criticise a judgment or judicial process does not extend to personal attacks on Judges, deliberate misrepresentation of proceedings or attempts to bring pressure to bear on the Court through public opinion.

“Where there are genuine concerns about judicial conduct, the appropriate institutional channels remain available and should be used,” the CJN added.

Vice President Kashim Shettima has declared that President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms saved Nigeria from imminent economic collapse and prevented the country from “falling into pieces.”

Mr Shettima made the assertion on Saturday after meeting with President Tinubu at his residence in Ikoyi, Lagos, where he defended some of the administration’s most controversial economic decisions.

The Vice President said the country’s foreign reserves stood at less than $3.9 billion when the Tinubu administration assumed office in 2023, arguing that the situation left Nigeria dangerously close to economic crisis.

According to him, the reserves were insufficient to finance even one month of fuel imports, while the economy was already heading towards the kind of crisis experienced by countries such as Venezuela.

“When we assumed the mantle of leadership, our foreign reserves were a staggering below $3.9 billion that was not enough to import fuel for one month,” Mr Shettima said.

He credited President Tinubu with having the “courage and conviction” to implement far-reaching measures, particularly the removal of fuel subsidy and the reform of the multiple exchange-rate system.

“The withdrawal of the fuel subsidy, the realignment of the multiple exchange rate were far-reaching decisions. The economy was actually on the verge of collapse. He saved the economy,” the Vice President said.

Mr Shettima further declared: “We were on the road to Caracas. He saved our economy; he saved the nation from falling into pieces.”

The Vice President, however, acknowledged the economic hardship confronting Nigerians, saying the administration was aware of the pains caused by its reforms.

“We appreciate the pains Nigerians are going through, but tough times do not last forever; tough people do,” he said.

Mr Shettima disclosed that the Federal Government would soon roll out additional programmes targeted at easing the burden on citizens, including e-logistics services in the North-West and electric transportation projects in the North-East.

He said the government would launch 10,600 electric tricycles in the North-East, alongside 300 buses and e-taxis, as part of efforts to reduce transportation difficulties and ameliorate the effects of economic hardship.

The Vice President also said the initiatives were evidence of President Tinubu’s concern for ordinary Nigerians, insisting that the administration remained committed to improving living conditions.

The meeting between President Tinubu and Vice President Shettima was their first public interaction since the President returned from his European vacation and the Vice President’s return from the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York.

President Tinubu had, in his Independence Day broadcast, maintained that Nigeria was on the path to prosperity.

However, opposition figures have rejected the administration’s assessment of the economy.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar accused the Tinubu administration of worsening poverty since assuming office, while former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, argued that Nigerians were experiencing increased hunger and insecurity under the present government.