Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, the national chairman of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), has explained how the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) can conduct free, fair, and credible elections in Nigeria.
Baba-Ahmed stated in a statement on Sunday that in order to boost public trust in the electoral process, INEC needs to be fortified and protected from excessive political meddling.
A review of the procedure for selecting the INEC Chairman, National Commissioners, and Resident Electoral Commissioners, or RECs, was recommended by the former Special Advisor to President Bola Tinubu on political matters.
He claims that the executive has too much power over the electoral body under the current system.
“You create serious questions about an electoral body’s neutrality the moment you hand it over to a partisan administration that wants to hold onto power,” he stated.
Additionally, he demanded that INEC be given more financial independence and be free to present and defend its budget in front of the National Assembly without interference from the executive branch.
The former political affairs special adviser to President Bola Tinubu called on authorities to punish politicians and others involved in electoral violence and fraud more severely.
Baba-Ahmed noted that the lack of accountability for offenders is a major factor in the continuation of electoral offences.
“Politicians who undermine the electoral process should be held accountable for their actions. “We must eradicate the culture of impunity,” he continued.
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