Amid growing political concerns ahead of future elections, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has defended the independence of the Independent National Electoral Commission.
The President said the electoral body has never intimidated any political actor, dismissing allegations of bias against the commission.
Tinubu made the remarks on Tuesday while receiving the leadership of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), led by its President, Most Reverend Matthew Ndagoso, during a courtesy visit to the State House.
Responding to concerns about the electoral process, the President maintained that INEC has continued to carry out its constitutional responsibilities without favour.
“INEC, you mentioned, are neutral. They’ve never, never intimidated anybody”, he said.
Tinubu suggested that allegations by some political actors may be driven by internal political uncertainties rather than the actions of government institutions.
“If political opponents are crying wolf, maybe they are afraid of their own shadows and the uncertainty in the company they keep. Not me,” he added.
The President also defended his administration’s handling of the country’s security and economic challenges, saying his government is confronting the problems it inherited.
“I don’t run away from what I inherited. I inherited the challenges. Am I doing something about it? Yes”, he said.
Tinubu said his administration would continue investing in the nation’s security architecture by providing more resources, building barracks and operational stations, equipping security agencies and strengthening the fight against terrorism.
Tinubu maintained that Nigeria’s democracy must be guided by fairness, insisting that every political party has an equal opportunity to compete.
