Former Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, has stirred controversy after alleging that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu does not require the votes of Nigerians to win elections but only needs the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the judiciary to declare him winner.
Odinkalu made the assertion during a live television programme on Tuesday while discussing Nigeria’s electoral process and democratic accountability.
According to him, the real power determining electoral outcomes in Nigeria no longer lies with the electorate but with institutions responsible for managing elections and adjudicating election disputes.
“Tinubu does not need Nigerians’ votes to be President. Tinubu needs INEC and judges to give him a result,” Odinkalu said during the broadcast.
The human rights lawyer argued that persistent allegations of electoral irregularities and controversial court rulings have eroded public confidence in Nigeria’s democracy, leaving citizens disillusioned about the value of their votes.
He maintained that until Nigeria reforms its electoral system and restores the independence of democratic institutions, elections would continue to be perceived as predetermined exercises rather than genuine expressions of the people’s will.
Odinkalu further criticized what he described as the excessive influence of political power over state institutions, warning that such a trend poses serious threats to democratic governance and national stability.
“When citizens believe their votes no longer count, democracy is effectively dead. What we are witnessing is a system where outcomes are negotiated through institutions instead of ballots,” he added.
His comments have since generated strong reactions across political and civil society circles, with supporters describing his remarks as a bold reflection of public frustration, while critics accuse him of making unsubstantiated claims capable of undermining confidence in democratic institutions.
As of the time of filing this report, the Presidency, INEC, and the Nigerian judiciary have not issued any official response to Odinkalu’s remarks.
