Political Parties and Civil Society Push for Independent INEC Leadership
Nigeria’s registered political parties, under the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), have proposed the creation of an independent body to appoint the chairman, national commissioners, and secretary of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The move aims to strengthen the commission’s neutrality and enhance the integrity of Nigeria’s elections. This proposal was presented by IPAC national chairman, Dr Yusuf Mamman Dantalle, at a consultative meeting between political party leaders and the House of Representatives Committee on Constitution Review in Abuja.
The call comes amid mounting pressure on the National Assembly to pass key electoral reforms to ensure transparency and credibility, especially in the appointment of the INEC chairman ahead of the 2027 general election. Dantalle emphasized that the current system, which allows the president to appoint INEC leadership, undermines public confidence and the commission’s independence. He suggested that the power to appoint INEC leadership should be removed from the executive and instead given to an Independent Appointment Committee comprising representatives of all registered parties, civil society, the National Judicial Council, and a joint committee of the National Assembly.
This proposal echoes earlier calls by former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan for reforms to guarantee credible electoral leadership. Obasanjo described the 2023 elections as “a travesty” and urged urgent reform to rebuild public trust. He stressed that INEC’s leadership must be thoroughly vetted to ensure only “dispassionate, non-partisan actors with impeccable reputations” are appointed. Jonathan also urged a new process for appointing the next INEC chairman, proposing an independent screening and nomination mechanism to strengthen the commission’s credibility ahead of the 2027 polls.
Electoral Reforms and Institutional Integrity
The intervention comes at a sensitive moment: the tenure of the current INEC chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, is due to expire before the end of the year. With President Bola Ahmed Tinubu expected to seek re-election in 2027, analysts say whoever emerges as the next INEC chair will play a decisive role in shaping the credibility of that contest.
Beyond the appointment process, Jonathan revived an earlier proposal for the establishment of an independent office of the registrar of political parties to regulate party operations, promote internal democracy, and enforce discipline. He suggested that such an office should have the power to declare the seat of any defector vacant, arguing that the electoral mandate belongs to the people, not individual ambition.
Like IPAC, Obasanjo, and Jonathan, the European Union (EU) also recently warned that Nigeria risks repeating the shortcomings of the 2023 general elections if reforms are not concluded before 2027. Barry Andrews, member of the European Parliament and former chief observer of the EU Election Observation Mission for the 2023 polls, told a press conference in Abuja that progress on electoral reform had been “modest at best, dangerously close to stagnation.”
Calls for Inclusive Electoral Processes
Echoing the call for reform, national secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and former Osun State governor Rauf Aregbesola proposed that political parties with at least five lawmakers in the National Assembly should nominate candidates for the INEC chairmanship. He argued that when a principal beneficiary of manipulation selects the electoral leadership, the process is inherently compromised.
Aregbesola also urged INEC to publicly demonstrate the technology it plans to use during elections. He cautioned against over-reliance on technology without institutional integrity, noting that “technology is as good as the person behind it.” He questioned the reliability of institutions charged with upholding law and order, asking, “is it reliable?” He emphasized that public confidence in Nigeria’s elections would remain low unless reforms began with the method of appointing the electoral commission’s leadership.
Youth Group Supports Bill to Remove Presidential Influence
The National Muslim Youth Association (NMYA) has urged the National Assembly to give serious consideration to a draft bill sponsored by Senator Ikechukwu Obiorah, which seeks to amend the constitution and strip the president and state governors of the power to appoint chairpersons of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs). NMYA President, Engr. Abdulraham Aliyu, stated that Nigeria’s electoral integrity hinges on removing political influence from the appointment process.
The group argued that technological innovations such as the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Results Viewing (IReV) portal, while useful, cannot guarantee credible elections without an impartial electoral body. It said both systems remain vulnerable to manipulation. The association maintained that the proposed amendment is necessary to establish a truly independent and neutral INEC capable of conducting free and fair elections.
Institutional Building and Security Challenges
Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State emphasized the need for strong infrastructure to support technology-driven elections, acknowledging that “infrastructure is key because we are talking about technology and network. INEC must ensure connectivity across polling centres. That is the only way we can have a seamless process.”
He further urged Nigeria to focus on building institutions rather than individuals. “Let us try to build institutions rather than building individuals, because individuals come and go, but institutions come to stay,” he said. “So long as there’s no rule of law, no matter what we do here, it is absolutely nothing.”
Lawal warned that security challenges also pose threats to electoral integrity. “Security is key to whatever we do because politicians rely on security and use it to intimidate people for their selfish interests. So long as that is not addressed, it is a fundamental error, and nothing can be done,” he added.
Strengthening Electoral Accountability
Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra State acknowledged that politicians must take responsibility for electoral malpractices. “Some politicians are sleeping in INEC offices because they don’t believe votes can be counted and announced without manipulation,” he said. He urged the electoral body to enforce accountability among its officials, noting that “INEC officials who blatantly go ahead to manipulate results and say ‘go to court’ must be prosecuted and jailed.”
Soludo commended the National Assembly for its consultative approach, stating that “a revised Constitution and Electoral Act enacted before 2027 will correct recurring flaws and ensure fair representation for all Nigerians.”
Debates on SIECs and Federal Structure
IPAC called for the scrapping of State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs) and transferring responsibility for local government elections in all 774 councils to INEC. Dantalle argued that SIECs have become tools of state governors to entrench one-party dominance. However, the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) opposed this move, warning that it could weaken Nigeria’s federal structure.
Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, executive director of CISLAC, supported the call for an independent INEC appointment process but opposed scrapping state electoral bodies. He stressed that only a transparent, impartial appointment process could guarantee credible elections. “If the process is not transparent or free from political influence, that’s a big challenge,” he stated.
Women’s Representation and Democratic Renewal
Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and Constitution Review Committee chairman, Benjamin Kalu, urged Nigerians to seize the opportunity to strengthen democracy through ongoing constitutional amendments. He called for consensus and collective action across party lines to address governance challenges.
Kalu emphasized that women’s inclusion is both a moral and economic necessity. “Too many Nigerians, especially women, feel left behind. Our democracy cannot be complete when half of the population is excluded from decisions that shape our future,” he said.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio declared the session open, urging a “collective renewal of Nigeria’s democratic promise.” He emphasized the importance of credible elections, justice delivery, and local government autonomy in restoring public confidence.
