President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has defended the neutrality of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), insisting that the electoral umpire has never intimidated any political actor.
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.
The President also said his administration is confronting the security and economic challenges it inherited, assuring Nigerians that efforts are underway to strengthen the country’s security architecture.
“I don’t run away from what I inherited. I inherited the challenges. Am I doing something about it? Yes,” Tinubu said.
“I can tell you I’m doing something about it. There will be resources to equip them, build new barracks, build stations, arm them and defeat terrorism.”
Responding to concerns about the electoral process, Tinubu maintained that INEC remains impartial in the discharge of its constitutional responsibilities.
“INEC, you mentioned, are neutral. They’ve never, never intimidated anybody,” he said.
The President suggested that allegations of intimidation by some political actors may stem from internal 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.
Tinubu reiterated that politics should be conducted on the basis of fairness and equal opportunity.
“All is fair in politics. And it’s equal opportunity,” he said.
