The National Chairman of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, has put forward a set of reforms that could enable the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct transparent and fair elections in 2027. Speaking in a statement released on Sunday, he emphasized that INEC must be fortified and protected from partisan interference to restore public trust in the electoral system.
Baba-Ahmed, who previously served as a Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on political issues, called for a fundamental overhaul of the appointment process for the INEC Chairman, National Commissioners, and Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs). According to him, the existing framework grants the executive branch excessive leverage over the electoral body, compromising its independence. He stated, “When you entrust an electoral body to a government that is determined to remain in power, its impartiality naturally comes under scrutiny.”
The PRP leader also advocated for financial autonomy for INEC, proposing that the commission should have the authority to prepare and defend its budget directly before the National Assembly without executive manipulation. Additionally, he urged the government to enforce stricter penalties for politicians and individuals engaged in electoral fraud and violence. He attributed the persistence of electoral malpractices to a lack of accountability and stressed that offenders must face legal consequences. “The era of impunity must be brought to an end,” he remarked, underscoring the need for decisive action to uphold the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral processes.