According to a report by Punch on Thursday, October 23, 2025, Prince Tony Akeni, spokesperson of the Nenadi Usman-led faction of the Labour Party, has warned the Senate against placing full responsibility for defending election results on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
He said the commission’s conduct during the 2023 presidential election showed that it could not yet be trusted with such a critical role.
Akeni recalled that during the 2023 presidential election tribunal, INEC failed to release vital documents needed by the Labour Party to prove its case.
He said Peter Obi’s legal team had requested access to the election results from the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal and other sensitive materials.
However, the electoral body reportedly delayed the process until the tribunal’s deadline almost expired.
He described the incident as a clear sign of INEC’s unwillingness to cooperate when transparency is required.
Akeni said that if INEC behaved in such a manner during an election petition, it could not be expected to act differently if made solely responsible for defending its own election results.
According to him, an electoral body that is slow to release evidence or hides behind bureaucracy cannot guarantee justice in post-election disputes.
He argued that shifting the burden of proof to such an institution could worsen mistrust in the electoral process.
Akeni said the 2023 experience should serve as a lesson for lawmakers pushing the reform.
“When the then INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, was required by Peter Obi’s legal team to provide IReV and other sensitive result evidences, INEC delayed till the tribunal deadline virtually expired. Under such circumstances, a dishonest and subornable INEC taking over the role of burden of proof would make no difference,” Akeni stated.
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