Analysts Advocate Non-Interference Of Executive On INEC

A Public Affairs Analyst, Mr. Kingsley Benneth says the appointment of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC and other senior officials of the electoral body should be devoid of interference by the Executive.

Mr. Benneth stated this while featuring on “Politics Today” a Kapital FM current Affairs programme in Abuja

Speaking on the topic “Reviewing Nigeria’s Electoral Process” Mr. Benneth explained that the appointment of the INEC Chairman should be based on stakeholders and civil society players and should be vetted by the National Assembly.

“I believe that moving forward the electoral process should be reviewed, it is very important first of all, to have an independent transparent process, independent of the presidency for the appointment of chairman and commissioners”

He said that it is important that the appointments of the commission are transparent and independent of the presidency.

“Resident electoral commissioners should ideally be appointed by the commission. A situation where the person who appointed the chairman and national commissioners is also the same person who nominated or appointed the RECs brings indiscipline into the system and lack of a clear line of authority” he added.

“When we look at the 2023 general election, we know that some people in the corridors of power, succeeded in getting the resident commissioners appointed and regrettably, these RECs were not properly vetted and screened by the senate and they ended up going to states where they disregarded lawful instructions from INEC and where we have seen irregularities largely because, logically, they may be doing the biddings of those who are responsible for their appointments”

According to him, there is a need to sanitize the process of appointments to the apex electoral body.

Another guest on the programme and a political Analyst, Mr. Frank UROMIE called for the review of the 2022 electoral act to accommodate Nigerians in the diaspora to enable participation during future elections.

“The electoral umpire should devise a voting system that allows those in the diaspora to participate in the nation’s elections”

Mr Uromie also urged the apex electoral body to devise a process where Nigerians can cast their votes during elections instead of shutting down the nation’s economy during election day

By Georgina Humphrey