Ardo Raises the Alarm over Threat to Electoral Integrity, Seeks United Action

 Chuks Okocha in Abuja 

 The convener, League of Northern Democrats (LND), Dr. Umar Ardo, and one of the key advocates for the registration of the All Democratic Alliance (ADA), has warned of a looming threat to Nigeria’s electoral integrity, following the appointment of Professor Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda as the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC).According to a statement by Ardo, Yilwatda, a former Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) with extensive technical expertise in ICT and electoral systems, now leads the ruling party at a time when public trust in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) remained fragile.”His deep insider knowledge of INEC’s technological infrastructure, protocols and vulnerabilities has raised widespread concern over a potential conflict of interest and the erosion of public confidence in future elections, particularly in the Post-Yakubu era.

“This development shifts the APC advantage from the political arena to the digital-electoral battlefield. It poses a grave danger to the credibility of Nigeria’s electoral process and must be addressed with urgency, strategy, and unity,” he said.Dr. Ardo referenced the “technical glitch” that marred the 2023 presidential election, describing it as a turning point in public trust.“The appointment of someone with Professor Yilwatda’s background at the helm of the ruling party casts a long shadow on the future of electoral transparency.

If we fail to act now, we risk even more sophisticated manipulation in the appointment of INEC’s own leadership later this year leading to the conduct of the election of 2027,” he said.In the statement, Ardo called on all opposition coalition leaders, as well as civil society, youth movements and international observers, to urgently rally together. He outlined concrete actions to safeguard Nigeria’s democracy to include ”Formation of a United Electoral Integrity Coalition to monitor and counter electoral manipulation.”Sponsorship of a Cooling-Off Period Law barring former INEC officials from partisan roles for a minimum of 10 years; Establishment of Independent, Real-Time Election Monitoring Infrastructure by the opposition.”Deepened Engagement with Civil Society and International Election Observers; National Public Awareness Campaigns about the digital risks now facing elections; and Preemptive Legal Challenges to test the constitutionality of Yilwatda’s appointment and prevent partisan advantage through insider access.”Ardo, therefore, emphasised that his views were not partisan outcry, but a national alarm.