By Muhammad Mamman
A prominent human rights lawyer, Chidi Odinkalu, has ignited controversy after stating on live television that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu “does not need Nigerians’ votes to become President” but instead relies on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the judiciary.
Odinkalu made the remark during a televised political affairs programme, where he criticised Nigeria’s electoral system and the perceived over-reliance of presidential outcomes on post-election litigation.
“Tinubu does not need Nigerians’ votes to be President. Tinubu needs INEC and judges to give him a result,” he said, suggesting that the credibility of elections has become secondary to institutional decisions taken after ballots are cast.
His comments have since sparked a wave of debate across social media and political circles, with supporters praising him for highlighting systemic issues, while critics accused him of making sweeping generalisations that could undermine public trust in democratic processes.
Odinkalu, a former Chair of Nigeria’s National Human Rights Commission, has long been vocal on electoral reforms, often calling for stronger safeguards to protect the integrity of votes.
Neither the presidency nor INEC had responded to his remarks at the time of publication.
