NewStats: 3,259,282 , 8,169,730 topics. Date: Saturday, 24 May 2025 at 04:03 PM 6y4uu

Ahead of the 2027 general elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is proposing amendments to Nigeria’s electoral framework that would strip the President of the power to appoint the Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs).

The proposed change would instead give the commission power to make this appointments, though with a different nomenclature to be known as State Directors of Elections.

The commission is also pushing for the introduction of electronically able voters’ cards to replace the use of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

Specifically, the commission is seeking amendments to Section 14 (3) Paragraph F of the Third Schedule to the 1999 Constitution to confer the power of appointing and disciplining Heads of State and FCT Offices of INEC on the commission.

INEC is also proposing amendment to Section 6 (3) of the Electoral Act 2022 to confer the power of appointing Heads of State and FCT Offices on the Commission.

According to INEC, these heads of state would be known as State Directors of Elections.

Special Adviser to the INEC chairman, Mohammad Kuna, disclosed this in his presentation at a retreat with the t Committee of the National Assembly on Electoral Matters on the reform of the electoral legal framework held in Lagos on Monday.

He said the proposal is essential to promote transparency, ability and efficiency in the electoral process.

Currently, the REC is the person in charge of INEC office at the state level.

The REC who is assisted by relevant government agencies, undertakes the Presidential, National Assembly, Gubernatorial and House of Assembly elections in a state and acts pursuant to powers delegated to him or her by INEC's national Chairman and 12 Commissioners.

Among the duties of the REC is to make available all the materials required to conduct an election. The REC also monitors the activities of all ad hoc staff and provides for proper verification of election results

Currently, the appointment of RECs, who oversee the electoral process in each state, is within the president’s purview according to Section 154 (1) of the 1999 constitution.

Section 6 (1) of the Electoral Act reads: "There is established in each State of the Federation, Federal Capital Territory and Local Government Area, an office of the Commission Which shall perform such functions as may be assigned to it by the Commission.

"(2) A person appointed to the office of a Resident Electoral Commissioner shall

(a) be answerable to the Commission ; and

(b) hold office for a term of five years from the date of his or her appointment which may be renewable for another term of five years and no more.

"(3) The Resident Electoral Commissioner appointed under the Constitution may only be removed by the President, acting on an address ed by two-thirds majority of the Senate praying that the Resident Electoral Commissioner be so removed for inability to perform the functions of the office, whether arising from infirmity of mind or body or any other cause, or for misconduct.

But according to the document presented by Kuna sighted by the Guardian, developments in the recent past and especially during and in the aftermath of the 2023 General election suggest the need for the Commission to have greater powers to make appointments to the heads of State and FCT Offices.

The proposal will also confer INEC the power to discipline erring RECs.

Aside from this, the commission is also proposing amendment of Sections 77 (2), 117 (1), 132 (5) and 178 (5) of the 1999 Constitution to provide for early, special, Out-of-Country, diaspora and inmates voting.

The document said this will allow the country to introduce early/special voting to cater for eligible voters on essential services, election personnel as well as voters under incarceration, those in the diaspora and out-of-country voting for eligible Nigerians outside the country during elections.

Another key proposal by INEC is the amendment of Sections 153 (1), 154 (3), 156 (1, a), 157 (2), 158 (1), and 160 (1) and the Third Schedule, Paragraph 15 (b - d) of the 1999 Constitution to create the Electoral Offences Commission and (b) Political Party Regulatory Agency.

The commission is also seeking the
amendment of sections 48, 49, 71 ant 91 of the 1999 Constitution by Providing New Provisions for Special Seats for Women and PwDs

"While the Commission should continue to work with all Political Parties for greater participation of under-represented groups in elective positions, the surest way to achieve that objective is through affirmative action.
This should be backed by a clear provision of the law that may, for instance, create designated constituencies for such groups, especially women and persons with Disability", the document stated.

The commission is also proposing to the National Assembly to: "Amend Sections of EA 2022 to Remove Ambiguities/Cross-Referencing Errors
(a) Section 60 (5) refers to ‘transfer’ of results while 64 (4 & 5) spoke about ‘direct transmission’; (b) Section 64 (4a & 5) refers to 47 (2) with regards the transmission of results; yet 47 (2) makes no reference to the transmission of results; (c) there are similar ambiguities identified in Sections 29 (1), 75 (3) & (4), 77(3), 131 (5) & (6) and 132 (5-10) of the Electoral Act, 2022 detailed in the submission of the Commission.

"Amend Section 65 (1) to Provide Clarity on the Commission's Powers to Review Election Results. Create a caveat in Section 65 (1) to provide that the triggers to the review of results should be instances of declarations made under duress.

"Review Sections 47 (1) and 16 (1, 2 & 4) on the Design, Printing, Control, Issuance and Use of PVCs. Review Section 47 (1) as well as 16 (1, 2 & 4) to Modify Requirements for the Use of PVCs to Allow for the Introduction of Electronically able Voters' Card or Any Other Form of ID Acceptable to the Commission.

https://guardian.ng/politics/2027-inec-moves-to-strip-presidents-power-to-appoint-recs/

Good


An electoral empire should not be subject to the president.

Let's see how it goes.
However, I for one can never trust inec especially this current one under tinubu

Better

But person wey appoint you fit remove you.

If we can't get the electoral process right, everything built on it will be wrong

Why not strip the power of the president to select and appoint the INEC chairman!
That will completely solidify and strengthen the independence of INEC!
Even if that portion of the electoral law is altered,the president can still influence the selection of the REC through the INEC chairman that the presidency currently controls!

ProudBoy:


Ahead of the 2027 general elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is proposing amendments to Nigeria’s electoral framework that would strip the President of the power to appoint the Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs).

The proposed change would instead give the commission power to make this appointments, though with a different nomenclature to be known as State Directors of Elections.

The commission is also pushing for the introduction of electronically able voters’ cards to replace the use of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

Specifically, the commission is seeking amendments to Section 14 (3) Paragraph F of the Third Schedule to the 1999 Constitution to confer the power of appointing and disciplining Heads of State and FCT Offices of INEC on the commission.

INEC is also proposing amendment to Section 6 (3) of the Electoral Act 2022 to confer the power of appointing Heads of State and FCT Offices on the Commission.

According to INEC, these heads of state would be known as State Directors of Elections.

Special Adviser to the INEC chairman, Mohammad Kuna, disclosed this in his presentation at a retreat with the t Committee of the National Assembly on Electoral Matters on the reform of the electoral legal framework held in Lagos on Monday.

He said the proposal is essential to promote transparency, ability and efficiency in the electoral process.

Currently, the REC is the person in charge of INEC office at the state level.

The REC who is assisted by relevant government agencies, undertakes the Presidential, National Assembly, Gubernatorial and House of Assembly elections in a state and acts pursuant to powers delegated to him or her by INEC's national Chairman and 12 Commissioners.

Among the duties of the REC is to make available all the materials required to conduct an election. The REC also monitors the activities of all ad hoc staff and provides for proper verification of election results

Currently, the appointment of RECs, who oversee the electoral process in each state, is within the president’s purview according to Section 154 (1) of the 1999 constitution.

Section 6 (1) of the Electoral Act reads: "There is established in each State of the Federation, Federal Capital Territory and Local Government Area, an office of the Commission Which shall perform such functions as may be assigned to it by the Commission.

"(2) A person appointed to the office of a Resident Electoral Commissioner shall

(a) be answerable to the Commission ; and

(b) hold office for a term of five years from the date of his or her appointment which may be renewable for another term of five years and no more.

"(3) The Resident Electoral Commissioner appointed under the Constitution may only be removed by the President, acting on an address ed by two-thirds majority of the Senate praying that the Resident Electoral Commissioner be so removed for inability to perform the functions of the office, whether arising from infirmity of mind or body or any other cause, or for misconduct.

But according to the document presented by Kuna sighted by the Guardian, developments in the recent past and especially during and in the aftermath of the 2023 General election suggest the need for the Commission to have greater powers to make appointments to the heads of State and FCT Offices.

The proposal will also confer INEC the power to discipline erring RECs.

Aside from this, the commission is also proposing amendment of Sections 77 (2), 117 (1), 132 (5) and 178 (5) of the 1999 Constitution to provide for early, special, Out-of-Country, diaspora and inmates voting.

The document said this will allow the country to introduce early/special voting to cater for eligible voters on essential services, election personnel as well as voters under incarceration, those in the diaspora and out-of-country voting for eligible Nigerians outside the country during elections.

Another key proposal by INEC is the amendment of Sections 153 (1), 154 (3), 156 (1, a), 157 (2), 158 (1), and 160 (1) and the Third Schedule, Paragraph 15 (b - d) of the 1999 Constitution to create the Electoral Offences Commission and (b) Political Party Regulatory Agency.

The commission is also seeking the
amendment of sections 48, 49, 71 ant 91 of the 1999 Constitution by Providing New Provisions for Special Seats for Women and PwDs

"While the Commission should continue to work with all Political Parties for greater participation of under-represented groups in elective positions, the surest way to achieve that objective is through affirmative action.
This should be backed by a clear provision of the law that may, for instance, create designated constituencies for such groups, especially women and persons with Disability", the document stated.

The commission is also proposing to the National Assembly to: "Amend Sections of EA 2022 to Remove Ambiguities/Cross-Referencing Errors
(a) Section 60 (5) refers to ‘transfer’ of results while 64 (4 & 5) spoke about ‘direct transmission’; (b) Section 64 (4a & 5) refers to 47 (2) with regards the transmission of results; yet 47 (2) makes no reference to the transmission of results; (c) there are similar ambiguities identified in Sections 29 (1), 75 (3) & (4), 77(3), 131 (5) & (6) and 132 (5-10) of the Electoral Act, 2022 detailed in the submission of the Commission.

"Amend Section 65 (1) to Provide Clarity on the Commission's Powers to Review Election Results. Create a caveat in Section 65 (1) to provide that the triggers to the review of results should be instances of declarations made under duress.

"Review Sections 47 (1) and 16 (1, 2 & 4) on the Design, Printing, Control, Issuance and Use of PVCs. Review Section 47 (1) as well as 16 (1, 2 & 4) to Modify Requirements for the Use of PVCs to Allow for the Introduction of Electronically able Voters' Card or Any Other Form of ID Acceptable to the Commission.


https://guardian.ng/politics/2027-inec-moves-to-strip-presidents-power-to-appoint-recs/

This thing will not first reading.

The power should be given to who then?
Inec chairman appointed by the president?
me and laugh

Gradual process, if this one succeed the next amendment maybe after 2027 elections will be to stop the president from appointing the INEC chairman. Let's have a relatively independent electoral body. This current one is not independent in anyway at all, it pretends to be independent if the sitting president decides not to act forcefully to it.

Tinubu need to relief Yakubu his position now for the Smooth transition.

Wetin Mahmud Yakubu dey think now after all the damage that has been done? Strength electric voting my friend.

That one fit be 2031, no be 2027..

Clowns 🤡




Nigeria is just a huge comedy circus 🤹‍♂️ 🎪, and the entertainment channel for the devil in hell

Clown 🤡 , Eyenec has made a fool of themselves long time ago, I don't know why a body will be called independent and still get interference from the president...

T

Good news

Anything to avoid rigging in 2027 election is welcome

Let me get it.....President appoints INEC chairman

INEC chairman appoints his own loyalists without legislative oversight or national scrutiny

The proposal sounds good but I can see how it benefits the INEC chairman and subsequently whoever appointed them.

The president should continue to appoint REC because every presidential appointment is subject to public scrutiny and criticisms

It is even stupid for a president to appoint the inec chairman himself. Was he expecting the chairman to work against him? Ur boss?

In the first place, the president should never have such powers, but we are in Nigeria.
INEC can go to hell, they are all in bed together.

Jesters

North.....

Smoke and mirrors!
The president still controls everything.
Nigerian presidency is just way too powerful. We copied American presidency without having their multitude of things that check the president's power

Another story to sell Newspaper 📰🗞️

bentenny:
Why not strip the power of the president to select and appoint the INEC chairman!
That will completely solidify and strengthen the independence of INEC!
Even if that portion of the electoral law is altered,the president can still influence the selection of the REC through the INEC chairman that the presidency currently controls!

Jokers

We need more reform on INEC to make it more independent. The president must not have control it must reflect independence.

2023 technical glitches don cast. They won introduce another format to select and rig 2027 election.




INEC is stinkingly corrupt. Even Satan is more holier than INEC.

Now , I now Nigeria is stupid and fools ....now they know that all these appointments needs to be sectionalize and put into segments just because , they know some mighty people will be affected but while can you sectionalize the entire country and strip the president power over regions or State ....all these is confusion ...these people are applying parliamentary system technique in a unitary government called Nigeria .....Nigeria is indeed confused.....

APC will fight this and call it unconstitutional. They will argue that the move should happen in 2031 elections

Lamba

But Goodluck Johnathan you mumu sha

Is it doable?
Tinubu and his men no go gree. Who put the there?

Dead on arrival!

Lol... Clowns.

We APC have perfected our 2027 rigging though...😹