Nigerian Political Parties Demand Constitutional Amendment to Strip President of Power to Appoint INEC Chairman and Top Officials to Ensure Electoral Independence

Nigerian political parties, operating under the umbrella of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), have made a sweeping demand for immediate constitutional reforms to strip the executive arm of government of its power to appoint the chairman, secretary, and national commissioners of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The Demand and Rationale
The parties issued the demand during a consultative meeting with the House of Representatives Committee on Constitution Review. IPAC warned that the nation’s democracy remains under threat as long as the electoral umpire is perceived to be within the “grip of the presidency.”

Yusuf Dantalle, the National Chairman of IPAC, stressed that the change is essential to:

Safeguard the commission’s independence.

Restore public trust in Nigeria’s electoral system, especially ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Ensure that Nigeria’s democracy can only thrive when INEC operates free from executive interference.

Proposed Solution
To implement this reform, IPAC proposed the establishment of an Independent Appointment Committee (IAC) to oversee the selection and appointment of top electoral officials.

The proposed IAC would be composed of representatives from various stakeholders, including:

All registered political parties

Civil society organizations

The National Judicial Council

The National Assembly

This structure is intended to ensure transparency and inclusivity in the crucial appointment process.

Wider Reform Agenda
Beyond INEC appointments, IPAC’s wider reform agenda includes several other measures deemed crucial for strengthening democratic governance:

Granting financial autonomy to local governments.

Scrapping state independent electoral commissions (SIECs).

Restoring funding for political parties.

Establishing an electoral offences tribunal.

Creating special legislative seats for women.