IPAC calls for independent panel to appoint INEC chairman, remove president’s appointment power
The Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has called for the removal of the power to appoint the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from the office of the President, urging instead for the establishment of an independent committee to handle such appointments.
IPAC President, Dr. Yusuf Mamman Dantalle, made the call during a meeting with the House of Representatives Committee on Constitutional Review in Abuja.
He argued that the current system, which gives the President the authority to appoint the INEC Chairman, could undermine public trust in the electoral body.
“To ensure the integrity of INEC, this power must be taken away from the President. There should be a committee comprising representatives of political parties, civil society groups, the Nigerian Bar Association, and the National Assembly to select the INEC Chairman,” Dantalle said.
He added that such a reform would promote fairness and transparency in elections, especially in light of recurring complaints about the conduct of past polls.
IPAC’s position aligns with the views previously expressed by former Presidents, Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, who also advocated reforms in the appointment process of the INEC leadership to strengthen electoral credibility.
According to them, such constitutional reforms would help restore public confidence in Nigeria’s democratic process ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Some political parties have proposed that only parties with representation in the National Assembly should be allowed to nominate candidates for the position.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Muslim Youth Association (NMYA) has urged the National Assembly to support a bill seeking to remove the power of the President and state governors to appoint electoral commissioners for INEC and State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs).
Its President, Engr. Abdulraham Aliyu, said, “Free and fair elections cannot be achieved as long as the President retains the power to appoint those who will oversee them.” He added that technological innovations such as BVAS and IReV would not guarantee credible elections without an independent electoral body.
In a related development, the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) also expressed support for an independent INEC appointment process but opposed the idea of scrapping state electoral commissions, arguing that doing so would weaken Nigeria’s federal system.
Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and Chairman of the Constitutional Review Committee, Benjamin Kalu, said the ongoing constitutional amendments must strengthen democratic governance and ensure a level playing field for political parties.
Similarly, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, represented by Senator Mohammed Tahir Monguno, stated that credible elections and local government autonomy are vital to restoring citizens’ confidence in government.
He added that supporting the creation of state police could also help tackle Nigeria’s worsening security challenges.
This comes amid reports confirming that the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, has resigned from his position after a decade of overseeing Nigeria’s elections through major reforms and digital innovations.
