Deji Adeleke Says INEC Chairman Alone Cannot Stop Election Rigging

The President of Adeleke University, Ede, Dr. Deji Adeleke, has said that ensuring free and fair elections in Nigeria requires the commitment of all stakeholders, insisting that the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) cannot single-handedly prevent electoral malpractice.

Speaking during the university's 12th undergraduate and eighth postgraduate convocation ceremony held in Ede, Osun State, Adeleke stressed that the credibility of elections depends largely on the conduct of officials deployed to polling units across the country.

According to him, incidents of vote manipulation often involve individuals assigned to election duties at the grassroots level. He alleged that some members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) serving as ad hoc electoral officials, alongside certain security personnel, compromise the process by accepting financial inducements to alter election results.

Adeleke noted that expecting the INEC chairman to personally monitor every polling unit is unrealistic, considering the thousands of voting centres spread across Nigeria. Using Osun State as an example, he pointed out that the state has more than 3,700 polling units, making direct supervision by a single official practically impossible.

He called on young Nigerians entrusted with election responsibilities to uphold honesty and patriotism, urging them to resist any attempt to influence the outcome of elections through corrupt practices.

The billionaire businessman also expressed concern over the violence that frequently accompanies elections, lamenting that innocent lives are often lost during the process. He added that security operatives should protect the integrity of elections rather than become participants in acts capable of undermining democracy.

Adeleke further warned that continued electoral fraud damages Nigeria's international reputation and weakens public confidence in democratic institutions. He also criticised actions that obstruct justice, saying they contribute to the country's political challenges.

Despite the concerns, he maintained that meaningful reforms remain possible if citizens, public officials and institutions collectively commit themselves to promoting transparency, accountability and credible elections.