Rotimi Amaechi, the presidential running mate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has raised serious concerns about electoral fraud in Nigeria, accusing politicians of stealing result sheets at the polling unit level during elections. Speaking to a group of youths, Amaechi warned that these acts endanger the lives of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ad-hoc staff who are responsible for managing voting and counting processes. He emphasized that such thefts occur even as voters wait to witness the counting of their ballots, undermining the credibility of Nigeria’s electoral system.
Amaechi, a seasoned politician who entered politics in 1987 immediately after leaving university, stressed that he has firsthand experience of how elections are conducted at the grassroots. He said that while politicians may not care about the safety of INEC staff, the public must demand transparency and accountability. “Politicians steal result sheets at the unit level risking the life of the INEC ad-hoc officer,” he stated, urging parents to discourage their children from serving as ad-hoc staff if they cannot guarantee their safety.
He called on Nigerians to remain vigilant and insist on the public counting of votes at polling units. According to Amaechi, citizens should not leave the polling unit until the result sheet is displayed and uploaded. “If there is a result sheet, we will queue up and when they finish counting, if you don’t upload it, you are not going,” he declared. He warned that if the public demands are ignored, the ADC is ready to mobilize a million people to protest outside INEC offices.
Amaechi referenced a past election in which results were allegedly rigged, citing the 2003 gubernatorial election that brought Rabiu Kwankwaso to power in Kano State. He recalled how election officials announced results after seeing only 500 people outside the polling unit, raising questions about the legitimacy of the process. “Don’t forget that there is an election that would have been rigged in Nigeria,” he reminded the audience, using the example to highlight the need for constant public oversight.
His remarks come amid growing calls for electoral reforms and greater transparency in Nigeria’s voting processes. Amaechi’s warning underscores the fragile nature of Nigeria’s democracy and the urgent need for credible elections. As the country prepares for future polls, his message serves as a stark reminder that voter participation must be protected and that every vote must be counted fairly and publicly. The challenge now lies in whether political leaders and electoral bodies will take these concerns seriously to ensure free and fair elections.
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