INEC Rejects Blame for Low Turnout in FCT Area Council Polls, Says Parties Must Mobilise Voters

|By Chinwendu Nwani

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has firmly rejected accusations that it caused the low voter turnout recorded in the recently concluded FCT Area Council elections.

National Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Muhammed Haruna, voiced his surprise on Monday during an interview on Trust TV, insisting that the responsibility for mobilising voters does not rest solely on the electoral body.

Reacting to widespread concerns over the poor participation across the Federal Capital Territory, Haruna stressed that while voter turnout remains a serious democratic issue, blaming INEC is misplaced.

“While voter turnout is a critical concern, attributing blame solely to INEC is misdirected,” he said. “INEC’s primary role is civic education, informing citizens on how to vote.”

Haruna emphasised that although the Commission actively encourages participation, political parties carry the primary responsibility of rallying their supporters to the polls. According to him, parties boast extensive memberships running into hundreds of thousands and even millions, making them better positioned to drive grassroots mobilisation.

“I’m surprised that INEC is blamed for low turnout,” he added. “Although we encourage participation, the responsibility for mobilising voters ultimately rests with political parties.”

The National Commissioner further clarified that INEC’s mandate prohibits it from endorsing candidates or political parties, limiting its role to ensuring a transparent and credible electoral process.

He, however, maintained that the Commission fulfilled its obligations during the FCT polls, noting that it undertook comprehensive efforts to sensitise voters and facilitate the exercise.

The FCT Area Council elections witnessed noticeably low turnout across polling units in the nation’s capital, sparking debates among stakeholders over voter apathy and the effectiveness of political mobilisation strategies.