The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has stated unequivocally that it does not favor any candidate or political party.
The clarification follows the Commission’s approval of a tweet by Omoyele Sowore, the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, AAC, in which he referred to his counterpart in the Labour Party, LP, Peter Obi, as an opportunist.
Sowore described Obi as an opportunist who fell in love with President Muhammadu Buhari, whom he also described as wicked and incompetent, in a tweet.
He also stated that Obi believed the policy would give his campaign an unfair advantage.
Surprisingly, the INEC liked the tweet, causing controversy and calling into question the electoral body’s neutrality.
However, the INEC has issued a statement to clarify the situation. On Wednesday, it issued a statement via its Twitter account.
“The Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) attention has been drawn to a post on its Twitter handle, liking a post relating to one of the 18 Presidential candidates,” it wrote.
“The Commission is an impartial electoral body with no preference for any candidate or political party. The Commission assures all Nigerians of its neutrality and promises to hold a free and fair general election. The Commission is devoted to the people of Nigeria.”
“In the meantime, the Commission is investigating the circumstances that led to the liking of the said post, and if an infraction is established, the Commission will take appropriate disciplinary actions.”
