A former presidential aspirant, Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, has vehemently rejected the schedule for INEC primaries 2027, describing it as a blatant attempt to manipulate the electoral process in favour of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, February 26, 2026, Olawepo-Hashim directly addressed INEC Chairman Joash Amupitan, demanding his resignation or warning of mass action by Nigerians to remove him from office.
“It is not the business of INEC to dictate to political parties when they should conduct nominations for elections,” he declared. “These guys don’t want to hold any genuine election. Amupitan should not be allowed to stay a day longer because he has no agenda to conduct a free and fair election.”
Olawepo-Hashim’s criticisms followed the official release of the adjusted timetable for INEC primaries 2027, which he argued was deliberately designed to favour the APC and destabilize opposition parties. “By moving the primaries earlier than scheduled, the commission is undermining other parties who are still in court trying to resolve internal disputes. This is disingenuous and malicious,” he said.
He further asserted that if President Bola Tinubu chooses not to contest the election, Nigerians should acknowledge that reality. “We know what to do if he refuses to organise a proper election. This is not the first time a Nigerian leader has tried to manipulate the process. Late General Sani Abacha attempted something similar, and we saw how that ended,” Olawepo-Hashim added.
The former aspirant emphasized that INEC’s credibility has been in serious doubt, citing its performance in the recent Abuja Area Council elections, which he described as Amupitan’s first electoral oversight. “Rushing out a poorly conceived timetable after such a woeful performance proves he cannot be trusted with the 2027 general elections. We cannot waste billions of Naira on an exercise whose outcome is already predictable. It would be an injustice to taxpayers and a disservice to Nigerians,” he said.
Olawepo-Hashim framed the situation as a critical moment for Nigeria’s democracy, which has endured 27 years of uninterrupted democratic governance. “There is a party trying to undermine the democratic order. Genuine democrats, both in Nigeria and around the world, will not allow this to succeed. God will not allow it. Just like Abacha’s attempt failed, this will fail too,” he warned.
A central point of Olawepo-Hashim’s argument was the proper role of political parties in scheduling primaries. “Primaries are the internal affairs of political parties. INEC is not a headmaster who can impose arbitrary dates. As long as political parties comply with the Electoral Act in submitting nominations, they can schedule primaries even weeks or days before the deadline,” he explained.
He accused INEC of deliberately destabilizing opposition parties by shifting primaries from July to April. “This is a strategic move to favour the APC. Opposition parties are still resolving internal disputes in court, and INEC’s interference undermines the democratic process. Political parties must have the autonomy to determine when to hold their primaries in accordance with the law,” Olawepo-Hashim said.
The former aspirant also highlighted the broader political implications of INEC’s actions. “The APC is using every means to manipulate the system. We must ensure that elections are free, fair, and credible. Democracy has been fought for and preserved for 27 years, and we will not allow anyone to roll it back. This attempt by APC and INEC under Amupitan will fail, just as Abacha’s did,” he concluded.
In reiterating his demand, Olawepo-Hashim called for a full reconstitution of INEC before the 2027 elections. “For us to have acceptable, credible, and transparent elections, INEC must be reconstituted. The current leadership has demonstrated it cannot be trusted to deliver a free and fair electoral process. Nigerians deserve better,” he stressed.
Olawepo-Hashim’s intervention adds to mounting criticism of the INEC chairman, who has been accused of partiality and overreach in regulating party primaries. Political analysts say the development could trigger tensions ahead of the 2027 general elections, highlighting the delicate balance between institutional authority and party autonomy in Nigeria’s democratic process.
As the debate over INEC primaries 2027 continues, opposition parties are expected to respond to the early timetable, while civil society groups and international observers monitor the situation closely to safeguard electoral integrity. The coming weeks are likely to be decisive in shaping both public confidence in INEC and the overall fairness of the 2027 elections.
Ireport247news
About The Author
