Osun Poll: Don’t Blame INEC Chairman for Election Rigging, Deji Adeleke Tells Nigerians

Billionaire businessman and President of Adeleke University, Dr. Deji Adeleke, has declared that no Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), regardless of competence or integrity, can single-handedly stop election rigging in Nigeria.

Speaking on Sunday during the 12th Undergraduate and 8th Postgraduate Convocation Ceremony of Adeleke University in Ede, Osun State, Adeleke urged Nigerians to focus on those who manipulate election results at the polling-unit level rather than placing all the blame on the electoral umpire.

According to him, electoral malpractice often begins with officials deployed to polling units, alleging that some National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members and security personnel compromise the integrity of elections by accepting inducements to alter results.

He stressed that it would be unrealistic to expect the INEC Chairman to monitor every polling unit across the country during elections.

“People lose their lives during elections, yet some officials entrusted with safeguarding the process allegedly collect money to manipulate results. Even if the INEC Chairman were everywhere at once, he could not physically supervise every polling unit in Nigeria,” he said.

Referring to the forthcoming Osun State governorship election, Adeleke noted that the state has 3,763 polling units, making it impossible for one individual to oversee the entire process.

He therefore called on election officials, security agencies and other stakeholders to uphold integrity, insisting that the credibility of elections depends on the conduct of those directly involved in the voting and collation process.

Adeleke warned that continued electoral malpractice would damage Nigeria’s democratic image and erode international confidence in the country’s institutions.

He also expressed concern over what he described as the distortion of justice through compromised electoral processes, urging Nigerians to embrace reforms that would strengthen democracy.

“It is painful to see our nation reduced because of actions that undermine credible elections. Nigeria is blessed with talented people, but we must protect the sanctity of our votes. It is not too late to change and rebuild confidence in our democracy,” he said.

Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor of Adeleke University, Prof. Solomon Adebola, disclosed that the institution admitted 1,554 students during the 2025/2026 academic session and would commence admissions into its newly approved Medicine (MBBS) and Pharmacy (Pharm.D) programmes in the 2026/2027 academic session following approval by the National Universities Commission.

He added that a total of 1,375 students graduated during the convocation, urging the graduands to approach the future with courage, excellence and integrity.