Olawepo-Hashim Demands INEC Disbandment After Appeal Court Ruling

Former presidential candidate and New Nigeria Peoples Party chieftain, Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, has called for the disbandment of the Independent National Electoral Commission following a recent Court of Appeal judgment concerning provisions of the Electoral Act.

Olawepo-Hashim made the call in a statement on Friday, September 18, 2026, arguing that the appellate court’s decision exposed problems in the way elections are administered in Nigeria.

He said the judgment had affected the operation of some provisions of the Electoral Act and raised questions about the effectiveness of the current electoral system.

The NNPP chieftain argued that simply changing parts of the Electoral Act would not be enough to address the challenges facing the country’s elections. He called for a broader reform of the electoral management system and a review of the structure of INEC.

Olawepo-Hashim said the electoral commission needed to be replaced with an institution that would operate with greater transparency and accountability. He maintained that such changes were necessary to rebuild public trust in the electoral process.

He also argued that electoral reforms should address what he described as weaknesses within the institutions responsible for managing elections, rather than focusing only on amendments to existing laws.

According to him, democracy depends on elections that allow citizens to freely express their choice. He said Nigerians should have an electoral system that protects fairness, transparency and accountability throughout the voting process.

The former presidential candidate urged government authorities to carefully examine the implications of the Court of Appeal judgment and take steps to strengthen the institutions responsible for conducting elections.

He also appealed to political parties, civil society groups and members of the public to take part in efforts to reform the electoral system ahead of future elections.

Olawepo-Hashim said such reforms would be needed to improve confidence in Nigeria’s democratic process and ensure that future elections are conducted in a way that reflects the choices of voters.