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The Socio-Economic and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged the Tinubu Bola President to use “a good office and his leadership position to reconsider his appointment from at least three Progressive Congress members (APC) as the Commissioner of the Resident Election (REC) from the Independent National Election Commission (Inec).”
The group noted that holding a 2027 general election amidst the appointment of a partisan Rec will make Nigeria’s rights ridicule to participate in a free and fair election and damage public trust in the election process.
Therefore, absorbing urged the president “To immediately nominate the qualified Nigerian who is a person with integrity that is unquestionable and not a member of political parties as a substitute for APC members and to submit the names of Nigerians like that to confirm by the Senate ahead of 2027 General Elections.”
Absorption also urged him to “immediately direct MR Lateef Fagbemi, San, Attorney General Federation and the Minister of Justice to compile and send a bill to the National Assembly to increase Inec’s independence, in accordance with your office oath and constitutional requirements before 2027 General Election.”
The absorption letter follows the nomination by the President and confirmation by the Senate of Mr. Etekamba Umoren (Akwa Ibom) Isah Shaka Ehimeakin (Edo), Bunmi Omoseyindemi (Lagos), and Anugbum Onuoha (river) in October 2023.
In the letter dated June 7, 2025 and signed by the Deputy Director of Collawole Oluwadare, the organization said: “Holding the 2027 General Election in the midst of the appointment of Rec Partisan will make Nigeria’s rights ridicule to participate in a free and fair election and damage public trust in the election process.”
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Serap said, “Sending a Draft Bill to the National Assembly long before the 2027 General Election to increase the independence and impartiality of Inec will increase the integrity and legitimacy of elections, and overcome serious and weaken problems witnessed during the 2023 general election.”
The letter was read in part, “Public perception of Inec independence is very important to build public trust in the selection process. Where Nigerians have doubts about Inec’s independence, they are more likely to have less confidence in the selection process, thus damaging democracy.
“Your government has a constitutional responsibility to ensure the appearance and independence and the actual unity in the appointment of high -ranking Inec officials.
“The combined effect of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution [as amended]Election law and international standards are the requirements that elections must be regulated by a correct election body -correct independent and impartial.
“The credibility and legitimacy of the selection mostly depends on the independence and impartial of those appointed to manage the process. Without an independent and impartial inec, Nigerian democratic rights will remain illusions.”
Arriving argues, that “whoever is appointed as a Rec for Inec must clearly be non-party, independent, impartial and neutral. Inec officials must be able to carry out their legal duties and apply election actions without fear or assistance.
“The Nigerian election body must enjoy independence from direction or control, both from the government or other quarters. It must be responsible to voters, and act appropriately.
“Treating Inec as a line department responsible for bureaucratic superiors and high -ranking politicians rather than as an independent body and does not side with conflict with constitutional and international standards and ideas about the rule of law.
“Reconsider the appointment of those suspected of being APC members, and replacing them with people with integrity and competencies that are unquestionable, and those who are not members of any political party will increase Inec’s independence.”
