Leadership coach and political activist, Adetokunbo Olufela Durotoye, has described the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the greatest obstacle to the growth of democracy in Nigeria, accusing the electoral umpire of deliberately suppressing voter participation to protect the political establishment.
Durotoye made the allegation during an interview on The Exchange Podcast, hosted by Olufemi Soneye, where he argued that INEC has evolved into a willing collaborator with those in power, using administrative bottlenecks to restrict citizens from freely exercising their voting rights.
According to him, the challenge facing Nigeria’s democracy goes beyond politicians, insisting that the electoral system itself is structured to frustrate voters and weaken genuine participation.
He said INEC’s operations have become one of the most discouraging aspects of the democratic process.
He criticised the continued reliance on the Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC), describing it as outdated and unnecessary in an era of advanced technology.
Durotoye argued that with INEC already in possession of voters’ biometric data, fingerprints and facial records, there is no technical justification for insisting on physical cards.
“There is no technical reason to insist on physical voter cards when INEC already has our biometrics. The PVC is being used to limit turnout, not to protect the vote,” he said.
He also faulted the voter registration process, describing it as slow, inefficient and hostile, particularly to young Nigerians eager to participate in elections.
According to him, these systemic hurdles disproportionately affect non-establishment voters, whom he identified as the real threat to entrenched political interests.
“The people being blocked are those outside the establishment. Those are the ones they fear,” Durotoye stated.
The leadership coach further raised concerns over what he described as a lack of accountability within INEC, noting that officials accused of electoral misconduct are rarely held personally responsible.
“There is a corporate shield around INEC. Until individuals are prosecuted and sent to jail for compromising elections, nothing will change,” he said.
Durotoye also warned about the growing dominance of political elites, expressing concern that mass defections by politicians are pushing Nigeria toward a de facto one-party system.
He argued that while political alignments may now appear clearer, governance and accountability have suffered as a result.
He maintained that despite these challenges, recent elections have helped demystify the political elite and shown that establishment power is not invincible.
Durotoye predicted that a growing citizens’ movement, driven by previously disengaged voters, would eventually overwhelm even deeply compromised systems.
“Even though government institutions may resist change, sustained civic engagement and mass participation will make it increasingly difficult to continue manipulating elections,” he said.
