Pressure mounts on President Tinubu to overhaul INEC before 2027 elections

The Policy and Legal Advocacy Center (PLAC) has urged President Bola Tinubu to restructure the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) before the 2027 general elections to restore public confidence in the electoral process.

The call follows a recent survey conducted by PLAC, which revealed a sharp decline in citizens’ trust in INEC. Speaking to journalists on Monday, the Executive Director of PLAC, Mr. Clement Nwankwo, emphasized the urgent need for electoral reforms.

“A survey we conducted showed that citizens’ confidence in the electoral body has badly deteriorated. The fact is that citizens have lost trust in INEC as presently constituted,” Nwankwo stated.

He stressed that for credible elections in 2027, President Tinubu must critically assess the flaws observed during the 2023 elections. “If we are going into elections in 2027, it is time for the country to sit down and prepare a blueprint for the conduct of future elections. INEC must be reconstituted immediately because we do not think the current leadership is prepared for the next election; it is already tainted,” he added.

Nwankwo also pointed out the need to revisit recommendations from the Justice Uwais Committee on electoral reforms, particularly concerning the appointment process of INEC officials. “The process of appointing INEC officials has not changed, and this remains a major concern. We must return to the Uwais Committee’s suggestions and find ways to implement them,” he urged.

Highlighting credibility issues, Nwankwo noted that Nigeria’s electoral challenges are not due to a lack of laws but rather the manipulation of existing systems by individuals for personal interests. “We have sufficient laws; the problem lies with individuals tampering with the system to achieve selfish ends,” he remarked.

This call aligns with earlier remarks made by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who, in November, advocated for a complete overhaul of INEC, including the removal of its chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, and other officials. Obasanjo criticized the commission’s failure to effectively implement the BVAS and IReV technologies during the 2023 elections, despite their potential to ensure transparency and boost public trust.

“The BVAS and IReV were celebrated for their potential to eliminate election rigging and enhance transparency. However, INEC willfully failed to implement these innovations, which led to widespread irregularities,” Obasanjo had said.

PLAC reiterated its hope that lessons would be drawn from recent elections in Ghana, urging swift action to restore credibility to Nigeria’s electoral process.