Kwankwaso Alleges INEC Wrongfully Allocated Votes to Tinubu in 2023, Says ‘It Will Not Happen Again’ in 2027

Former Kano State Governor and 2027 NDC Vice Presidential candidate Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has reignited debate over the credibility of Nigeria’s 2023 presidential election, alleging that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) fraudulently allocated votes to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Speaking on preparations for the 2027 general election, Kwankwaso reportedly declared that the alleged manipulation witnessed in the last presidential election would not be repeated.
“INEC fraudulently allocated votes to Tinubu during the last presidential election. This will not happen again in 2027,” Kwankwaso said.
The statement reflects a position long held by sections of the opposition, who have argued that the 2023 election fell short of public expectations for transparency. Among the issues frequently raised were concerns over the transmission of election results, discrepancies between polling-unit figures and collated totals in some areas, and delays in the deployment of the electronic results viewing system.
Supporters of the opposition have argued that these challenges weakened public confidence in the electoral process and fueled demands for comprehensive electoral reforms before the next general election.
INEC, however, has consistently rejected allegations that it manipulated the election. The commission has maintained that the 2023 presidential poll was conducted in substantial compliance with the Electoral Act and that the declared results reflected votes cast by Nigerians.
President Bola Tinubu, who was declared winner of the election by INEC, has also consistently maintained that his victory was lawful. His election was challenged by opposition candidates before the election tribunal and on appeal, but the courts ultimately upheld his election.
Kwankwaso’s latest remarks are therefore allegations rather than established findings. They nevertheless underscore the continued political divisions surrounding the 2023 election and the growing focus on electoral integrity ahead of the 2027 polls.
With political parties already mobilizing across the country, analysts expect issues such as transparent vote collation, electronic transmission of results, the independence of INEC, voter confidence, and election security to dominate national conversations in the months leading to the next presidential election.
Whether Kwankwaso’s prediction that “it will not happen again in 2027” proves accurate will depend on the implementation of electoral reforms, the conduct of political actors, the preparedness of INEC, and the vigilance of voters, political parties, civil society organizations, election observers, and the judiciary.