As Nigeria prepares for the crucial 2027 general elections, prominent political leaders and stakeholders have called for urgent reforms at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure credible, transparent, and fair polls. During recent consultations and panel discussions in Abuja, political party leaders and civil society advocates stressed that addressing structural weaknesses within INEC is critical for restoring public trust in the electoral process.
Rauf Aregbesola, National Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), proposed that political parties with at least five members in the National Assembly should have a role in nominating INEC’s chairman. He emphasized this as a way to reduce political interference and ensure impartiality from the top of the electoral body. Aregbesola also urged INEC to publicly demonstrate and clarify the technology it plans to use, such as the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the Independent Reader Verification (IReV), to build transparency and confidence among Nigerians.
The Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) representing registered political parties also called for the stripping of presidential powers to appoint INEC officials and suggested the formation of an Independent Appointment Committee comprising political parties, civil society, and judiciary representatives. IPAC further advocated for the transfer of responsibility for local government elections from State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs) to INEC, aiming for uniformity and credibility at all levels.
Additionally, political activists, former candidates, and civil society groups have highlighted the urgent need for electoral reforms, including enhanced judicial protections, public funding of political parties, and the creation of an Electoral Offences Commission to address electoral malpractice.
With the 2027 elections poised to be the most critical in Nigeria’s democratic history, these calls for INEC reform underscore the collective desire to ensure that elections reflect the true will of the people, strengthening the country’s democratic foundations.
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