Public affairs analyst and constitutional lawyer Kenneth Okonkwo has sharply criticized the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), alleging that the electoral body functions as an extension of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), thus obstructing efforts to build a unified opposition in Nigeria.
In a live interview with ARISE News on Monday, Okonkwo dismissed claims that the opposition coalition is falling apart, clarifying that talks are still in early stages and focused on shared national priorities, not personal ambitions.
“How can something be in disarray when it hasn’t even started?” he asked. “We’re currently discussing ideas and options, not candidacies or party differences.”
However, Okonkwo identified INEC’s alleged lack of independence as a major stumbling block. “With INEC acting like a department of APC, opposition parties face constant roadblocks—whether in party registration or fair political competition,” he asserted.
According to him, in a country governed by the rule of law, forming a new political party would be the most logical strategy for coalition-building. But due to what he described as INEC’s intentional delays in registering new parties, opposition leaders are now considering alignment with an existing party that shares democratic values.
“It’s no longer feasible to place all our hopes on a new party, because INEC will delay the process,” he noted. “We are considering viable existing platforms as alternatives.”
Okonkwo emphasized that the coalition isn’t just focused on defeating the APC in 2027, but on restoring democratic institutions and safeguarding civil liberties in Nigeria.
“We envision a democratic Nigeria where the press is free, the judiciary is impartial, and citizens enjoy full human rights,” he said. He further condemned recent cases of journalist arrests and urged for a future where dissent is protected, not punished.
The lawyer stressed that the coalition aims to offer Nigerians more than electoral success—it seeks to restore true democratic governance, constitutional order, and respect for the rule of law.