Nigeria’s registered political parties, under the umbrella of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) have proposed the establishment of an independent body to oversee the appointment of the Chairman, National Commissioners, and Secretary of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The political parties said the move is aimed at strengthening the commission’s neutrality and boosting public confidence in the nation’s electoral process.
The proposal was presented by IPAC’s National Chairman, Dr. Yusuf Mamman Dantalle, during a consultative meeting between political party leaders and the House of Representatives Committee on Constitution Review on Monday in Abuja.
Dr. Dantalle said the current system, where the President appoints INEC leadership subject to Senate confirmation, raises concerns about partisanship and political influence.
“To guarantee the independence and credibility of the electoral process, appointments into INEC should be made by an autonomous body free from executive control,” he said.
He explained that the proposed reform would help safeguard the commission’s integrity, ensure transparency in the appointment process, and deepen Nigeria’s democracy.
The consultative meeting is part of ongoing efforts by the National Assembly to review the 1999 Constitution and address public concerns about the conduct and credibility of elections in the country.
