Attahiru Jega, former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has called on President Bola Tinubu to revisit the recent appointments within the commission, asserting that there is still an opportunity for a timely review.
During an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday, Jega expressed his concern, stating, “I think there is no doubt that if the President were listening, my advice would be to immediately review the appointment of the Resident Electoral Commissioners that was passed by the Senate recently.”
Highlighting the significance of the issue, Jega emphasized that the appointments not only convey a negative message about the government’s commitment to enhancing the integrity of elections but also suggest a lack of interest in safeguarding the independence and impartiality of the electoral management body.
Jega continued, “I will want to believe that Mr. President was either misinformed or is not really furnished with all the necessary details with regards to these appointments. So that is the first recommendation I will make; it is not too late.”
He pointed out that some appointees are allegedly partisan or registered members of political parties, which goes against legal provisions. Jega urged corrective actions, stating, “The right thing should be done, and corrections should be made.”
Addressing the procedural aspect, Jega suggested improvements for the future, stating, “Moving into the future, the Senate itself needs to be up and doing. The normal thing to do, when these kinds of recommendations are made, is to send [them] to the committee, which has the time to do a thorough review of the details of all the people appointed before it comes to the plenary.”
He criticized the apparent rush in the approval process, noting, “Even with the best of intentions, there’s a faulty process, and it is that faulty process that is now resulting in inappropriate people being appointed into these kinds of positions.
