Socio-Financial Rights and Accountability Venture (SERAP) has urged President Bola Tinubu to rethink his appointment of not less than three alleged members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) of the Impartial Nationwide Electoral Fee (INEC).
SERAP made this recognized in a press release posted on the organisation’s web site on Sunday.
Within the assertion, SERAP said it urged Tinubu to make use of his “good places of work and management place to rethink his appointment of not less than three alleged members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) of the Impartial Nationwide Electoral Fee (INEC).”
SERAP urged him “to urgently nominate certified Nigerians who’re individuals of unquestionable integrity and a non-member of a political get together as replacements for the alleged APC members and to submit the names of any such Nigerians for affirmation by the Senate forward of the 2027 common elections.”
This name comes within the wake of the president’s nomination and the Senate’s affirmation of messrs Etekamba Umoren (Akwa Ibom), Isah Shaka Ehimeakne (Edo), Bunmi Omoseyindemi (Lagos), and Anugbum Onuoha (Rivers) in October 2023.
The civic group additional known as on the President to respect the independence of the electoral fee, INEC forward of the 2027 polls.
It urged the President to direct the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, to draft and ship a invoice to the Nationwide Meeting to boost the independence of INEC.
SERAP stated, “Sending a draft invoice to the Nationwide Meeting effectively forward of the 2027 common elections to enhance the independence and impartiality of INEC would improve the integrity and legitimacy of the elections, and handle the intense and debilitating issues witnessed through the 2023 common elections.”
The letter, learn partly, “Public notion of the independence of INEC is crucial for constructing public confidence within the electoral course of. The place Nigerians have doubts in regards to the independence of INEC, they’re extra prone to have much less confidence within the electoral course of, thereby undermining democracy.”
“Your authorities has the constitutional accountability to make sure each the looks and the precise independence and impartiality within the appointment of INEC high officers.
“The mixed impact of the Nigerian Structure 1999 [as amended], the Electoral Act and worldwide requirements is the requirement that elections should be organized by a very unbiased and neutral electoral physique.”
“The credibility and legitimacy of elections rely totally on the independence and impartiality of these appointed to handle the method. With out an unbiased and neutral INEC, the democratic rights of Nigerians would stay illusory.”
“We hope that the facets highlighted will assist information your actions in appearing to rethink the appointment of alleged APC members as RECs, nominate certified Nigerians as substitute for them, and direct Mr Fagbemi to draft a invoice to boost the independence and impartiality of INEC.”
“We might be grateful if the advisable measures are taken urgently to make sure respect for the sanctity and integrity of the electoral course of forward of the 2027 common elections.”
“The standing, powers, independence of INEC, and the impartiality with which it acts and is seen to be allowed to behave, are basic to the integrity of Nigeria’s elections and effectiveness of residents’ democratic rights.”
“Anybody to be appointed as RECs for INEC should clearly be non-partisan, unbiased, neutral and impartial. INEC officers ought to have the ability to discharge their authorized duties and implement the Electoral Act with out concern or favour.”
“Nigeria’s electoral physique should take pleasure in independence from path or management, whether or not from the federal government or another quarter. It should be accountable to the citizens and act accordingly.”
“Treating INEC as a line division accountable to bureaucratic higher-ups and high-ranking politicians somewhat than as an unbiased and neutral physique is antithetical to constitutional and worldwide requirements and the notion of the rule of legislation.”
“The usage of the phrase ‘non-partisan’ implies that these to be appointed to conduct credible elections should not be individuals who brazenly determine as belonging to a political get together, whose occupation is politics or who’re perceived by odd Nigerians as having political biases.”
“Part 153(1) (f) of the Nigerian Structure offers that ‘There shall be established for the Federation the next our bodies, specifically – (f) Impartial Nationwide Electoral Fee.’”
The Senate confirmed the appointment of 5 resident electoral commissioners (RECs) for the Impartial Nationwide Electoral Fee (INEC) in Might 2025.
