Eedris Abdulkareem has never been one to shy away from controversy. With a career built on fierce social commentary and unfiltered truth-telling, the veteran rapper is back at it again—this time turning his attention toward Nigeria’s electoral body. In his latest song titled ‘Ojoro INEC’, Eedris accuses the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of bowing to political pressure and abandoning its supposed neutrality.
On the track, which was released Friday, the rapper doesn’t mince words. He questions INEC’s credibility and autonomy, throwing sharp jabs that suggest the institution is working in favour of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and President Bola Tinubu. He raps:
“E be like say INEC dey work for Tinubu / E be like say INEC dey work for APC…”—a blunt line that immediately sets the tone for the rest of the track.
Accusations of Complicity and Electoral Manipulation
Throughout ‘Ojoro INEC’, Eedris raises serious questions about INEC’s decisions regarding voter registration and election procedures. From the alleged move to allow voting without a Permanent Voter Card (PVC) to the supposed reluctance to register new political parties and implement electronic voting, the rapper implies a system rigged to favour those already in power. Even the judiciary, in his view, is not spared from blame.
This isn’t just a protest song—it’s an outright call-out. And coming from an artist with a long-standing record of activism through music, the accusations sting with even more weight.
A Long History of Confronting the Powerful
This latest release fits perfectly into the pattern Eedris Abdulkareem has carved over the years. Just months ago, in April, he dropped ‘Tell Your Papa’, a song that took direct aim at Seyi Tinubu, son of the Nigerian President. The track painted a vivid picture of the struggles Nigerians are enduring and demanded that Seyi relay that harsh reality to his father.
The song was not taken lightly. The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) moved swiftly, banning the track for violating Section 3.1.8 of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code. But if the authorities thought that ban would silence him, ‘Ojoro INEC’ proves otherwise.
Taking On Clergy and State
Eedris’s critique doesn’t stop at politicians and electoral officers. In June 2024, he stirred even more controversy with ‘Emilokan’, where he took aim at one of the most revered religious figures in the country—Pastor Enoch Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God. Eedris accused the cleric of staying quiet under Tinubu’s leadership despite being openly critical of former President Goodluck Jonathan.
It’s a bold move, especially in a society where religious figures command enormous respect and influence. But Eedris, true to form, held nothing back.
An Artist Who Refuses to Play It Safe
There’s no denying it: Eedris Abdulkareem is controversial. But that controversy is also what makes his voice so vital in Nigeria’s political and cultural landscape. In a time when many artists choose commercial success over consciousness, Eedris continues to use his microphone as a megaphone for the people.
With ‘Ojoro INEC’, he’s not just dropping bars—he’s making a statement, one that questions the integrity of democracy itself in Nigeria. And if the past is any indication, this likely won’t be the last time Eedris forces the nation to listen.
