A tense disagreement erupted between Arise TV presenters Rufai Oseni and Reuben Abati during the Wednesday, October 7 edition of The Morning Show.
The exchange occurred while the hosts were discussing preparations for the 2027 general elections and the role of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in announcing election results.
Oseni Questions INEC’s Position
The discussion followed comments attributed to INEC Chairman Professor Joash Amupitan that the commission is the only body legally empowered to declare election results. Amupitan reiterated the position on October 6, saying only INEC has the legal authority to declare results.
Oseni appeared to challenge the idea that Nigerians should simply wait for the commission’s official declarations without having independent ways of tracking results from polling units.
The broadcaster suggested that citizens could establish their own monitoring platforms or situation rooms to follow the results as they emerge.
According to Oseni, such independent monitoring could allow Nigerians to keep track of the electoral process and make irregularities more difficult to conceal.
Abati Objects to Parallel Monitoring
Abati, however, disagreed with Oseni’s suggestion.
The former presidential spokesperson argued that creating a parallel structure for monitoring election results could conflict with the established electoral process.
The disagreement between the two presenters became increasingly heated as they defended their respective positions.
Rufai Urges Nigerians to Monitor Election
At one point, Oseni turned his attention to viewers and encouraged Nigerians to independently monitor the 2027 election.
“Nigerians, do not mind Dr Abati. Make sure you set up your own parallel INEC and situation rooms on election day,” he said.
Oseni subsequently clarified that while Nigerians could independently monitor and collate information from the election, the official declaration of final results remained the responsibility of INEC.
“The only crime is when you declare the final results,” Oseni said, warning Nigerians not to be “fooled for the second time.”
The exchange has since attracted attention online, with clips from the heated discussion circulating among viewers ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Watch the video below:
Nigerians, do not mind Dr Abati. Make sure you set up your own parallel INEC and situation rooms on election day. It is not a crime to have your own; the only crime is when you declare the final results. Nigerians, do not be fooled for the second time.
— Rufai Oseni, after a heated in-studio exchange on Arise this morning about having a parallel INEC.
— BLESSED 🥷 (@Dee_9889) October 7, 2026
