The Socio‑Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged President Bola Tinubu to disclose the details of the process for appointing the next chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). In a letter dated 27 September, signed by its Deputy Director Kolawole Oluwadare, SERAP stressed the need for transparency in the selection and appointment procedure.
SERAP argues that Nigerians have a constitutional right to know how many candidates are being considered for the INEC chairmanship, the names of those candidates, and whether the Council of State has been consulted. The organization warned that the appointment process should not be a “closed shop,” insisting that openness is essential to maintain public trust in the commission’s independence and impartiality.
The call for transparency comes as Professor Mahmood Yakubu’s ten‑year tenure as INEC chairman is set to end in November. SERAP emphasized that the successor must be non‑partisan, independent, impartial and neutral, and that secrecy would undermine INEC’s credibility. By making the appointment process transparent, SERAP hopes to promote accountability and ensure that the next chairman is chosen on the basis of merit and qualifications.
Given the electoral commission’s critical role in Nigeria’s democratic process, the appointment of its chairman is a significant development that warrants public scrutiny. Disclosing the details of the appointment process would be a concrete step toward greater transparency and accountability in the country’s electoral system.
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