There was public outrage on Thursday after a campaign-branded vehicle linked to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was reportedly spotted inside an office of the Independent National Electoral Commission in Rivers State.
The development has raised fresh concerns about the neutrality of the electoral umpire ahead of next year’s general election in the country.
A Nigerian man triggered the reactions after sharing a video online, which was sighted by POLITICS NIGERIA.
In the clip, he alleged that a vehicle bearing the “Renewed Hope” slogan was seen parked within the INEC premises. The slogan is widely associated with Tinubu’s campaign movement.
The man questioned the credibility of the commission. He wondered why a campaign-branded item linked to a sitting president would be found inside an electoral office. He also pointed out that there was no visible sign of branding from other political parties within the same environment.
His claims quickly gained attention on social media. Many users expressed worry over what they described as a dangerous signal. Some argued that such a situation could weaken public trust in the electoral process. Others called on INEC to give a clear explanation and reassure Nigerians of its independence.
As of the time of filing this report, the electoral body has not issued any official statement addressing the allegation. Efforts to verify the exact circumstances surrounding the presence of the vehicle were still ongoing.