The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has called on President Bola Tinubu to urgently nominate qualified Nigerians of unquestionable integrity, who are not members of any political party, as replacements for the alleged APC members currently serving as Resident Electoral Commissioners.
SERAP also urged the President to submit the names of such nominees to the Senate for confirmation ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a statement signed and released by SERAP Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare on Sunday, the organisation further requested that President Tinubu direct the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Lateef Fagbemi, to draft and submit a bill to the National Assembly aimed at strengthening the independence of INEC, in line with his oath of office and constitutional requirements.
SERAP’s letter followed the nomination and Senate confirmation of Messrs Etekamba Umoren (Akwa Ibom), Isah Shaka Ehimeakne (Edo), Bunmi Omoseyindemi (Lagos), and Anugbum Onuoha (Rivers) in October 2023.
The organisation argued that sending a draft bill to the National Assembly well ahead of the 2027 general elections to enhance INEC’s independence and impartiality would bolster the integrity and legitimacy of the elections and address the serious challenges witnessed in 2023.
The statement stressed that public perception of INEC’s independence is essential for building confidence in the electoral process. Where Nigerians doubt INEC’s independence, public trust in the process is diminished, thereby undermining democracy.
SERAP stressed that the government has a constitutional duty to ensure both the appearance and reality of independence and impartiality in the appointment of INEC officials. The combined effect of the Nigerian Constitution, the Electoral Act, and international standards is the requirement that elections must be organised by a truly independent and impartial electoral body.
The credibility and legitimacy of elections, SERAP noted, depend largely on the independence and impartiality of those appointed to manage the process. Without an independent and impartial INEC, the democratic rights of Nigerians would remain illusory.
The statement further highlighted that anyone appointed as a REC must be non-partisan, independent, impartial, and neutral and that INEC officials should be able to discharge their legal duties without fear or favour. Nigeria’s electoral body must enjoy independence from government direction or control, and be accountable to the electorate.
SERAP cited sections of the Nigerian Constitution and the Electoral Act which require that RECs must not be members of political parties and must be persons of unquestionable integrity.
The organisation argued that the nomination, confirmation, and appointment of alleged APC members as RECs for INEC constitutes a breach of these provisions.
Referencing international standards, SERAP noted that both the United Nations Human Rights Committee and the African Union’s Charter on Democracy, Elections, and Governance call for the establishment of independent and impartial national electoral bodies.
SERAP concluded by urging the President to reconsider the appointment of individuals allegedly affiliated with the APC, and to replace them with competent, non-partisan Nigerians of unquestionable integrity, thereby enhancing the independence of INEC.
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