International Journal of Academic Management Science Research (IJAMSR)   Year: 2019 | Volume: 3 | Issue: 5 | Page No.: 44-53 The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the challenges Electoral Administration in Nigeria: The Path to credibility. Onwunyi, Ugochukwu Mmaduabuchi, Victor, Emeka Udegbunam, Mba, Alex Obiora Abstract: Election administration has been a traditional role of the election management body in Nigeria notwithstanding the nomenclature. Prelude to the 2019 general elections in Nigeria, one would simply want to see an election that is devoid of violence, maladministration and rancor. The path towards achieving such feat as free, fair and credible elections in Nigeria can be traceable to the objectivity as well as the level of professionalism displayed by the election management body; the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). This study is an attempt at examining the Independent National Electoral Commission and electoral administration in Nigeria as it regards election credibility. The methodology of the qualitative method of data collection and analysis was adequately employed, while the Marxist theory of the state provided the framework of analysis. The study attempts to reveal whether administrative capacity of the Independent National Electoral Commission for the conduct of elections affected its credibility over the years. The study argues equally that the limited autonomy of INEC accounted for ineffectiveness of Independent National Electoral Commission in electoral administration in Nigeria. The study made recommendations towards enthroning election credibility in Nigeria such as; the reports of the previous committees on re-structuring the Independent National Electoral Commission should be implemented without further delay so as to structurally and institutionally reposition the Commission to conduct free, fair and credible elections in Nigeria. Also, the staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission should endeavour to live above board in the discharge of their responsibilities; they should muster the courage to make the Commission independent and autonomous so as to compete with other African countries in conducting free and fair elections.