INEC Appointments should be independent- Attahiru JegaFormer Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Attahiru Jega, emphasized the importance of transparency and independence in the appointments within the electoral commission while discussing Nigeria’s electoral process in an interview with ARISE NEWS. Jega expressed concern about the appointment of Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) by the same authority responsible for appointing the INEC chairman and national commissioners, as this could lead to issues and a lack of clear authority.
He specifically mentioned that some RECs appointed for the 2023 general election seemed to disregard lawful instructions and might be influenced by those who nominated or appointed them, particularly individuals close to the president. Jega stressed the need for reform in the appointment process, advocating for transparency and independence from the presidency in the selection of the chairman and commissioners.
He suggested that the commission itself should appoint RECs.Jega also raised questions about the failure to upload election results, especially in presidential elections. He mentioned that the card reader had a high success rate, with only a 5% failure rate. He called for a transparent investigation into the reasons behind the failure of result uploading, expressing the belief that such an inquiry would reveal crucial information.Additionally, Jega advised INEC to enhance its communication strategy to prevent unnecessary issues and avoid accusations of compromise against the INEC Chairman without proper investigation.
He emphasized the need for a thorough investigation to uncover any interference in the electoral process by politicians.Source Arise Tv News