Actor and politician, Kenneth Okonkwo, has faulted the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for its handling of the technical glitches that marred the electronic transmission of results during the 2023 general elections, insisting that the electoral umpire failed to uphold integrity and transparency.
Speaking on Arise News’ The Morning Show on Monday, October 27, 2025, the lawyer and member of the National Working Committee of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) compared INEC’s response to that of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), which he said acted decisively when it encountered similar technical challenges.
“When JAMB had a glitch, they cancelled the exams and ordered students to retake them. But when INEC had a glitch, they continued announcing technically glitched results and told people to go to court,” Okonkwo said.
The former presidential campaign spokesperson lamented that Nigeria’s electoral process continues to suffer from what he described as “a lack of the right attitude” among officials responsible for managing elections. He argued that even the best electoral laws and reforms would be meaningless without sincerity and accountability on the part of institutions and leaders.
“No matter the number of laws you amend, without the right attitude, competence, and a corruption-free agency, you will still have the same problem,” he said.
Okonkwo urged the newly appointed INEC chairman to prioritize transparency and integrity in future elections, noting that credible polls are the foundation of national stability and development.
The ADC chieftain’s comments come amid renewed debates on electoral reforms and constitutional amendments following the National Assembly’s decision to review provisions for future elections, including independent candidacy and gender inclusion.