CUPP Slams Inec Agreement with FCDA, warning not to damage the independence of the election

The United Political Party Coalition (CUPP) has greatly criticized the decision of the Independent National Election Commission (INEC) to enable the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) to handle the construction of a new national headquarters in Abuja.

In a statement issued Tuesday, the National Secretary of the CUPP and the former National President of the Inter-Party Advisory Council, Mr. Peter Ameh, described the arrangement as “very disturbing” and a direct threat to the independence of Inec which is guaranteed constitutionally.

“This new decision by the Independent National Election Commission to allow the Federal Capital Development Authority to build a new national headquarters in Abuja is very troubling and is a direct attack on the constitutional independence of the commission,” Ameh said.

He condemned the move as “unacceptable returns to practices that damage the progress of Nigerian democracy,” emphasizing that section 158 (1) of the 1999 constitution (as changed) guarantees inec autonomy and isolating it from external control.

“In addition, section 81 (3) provides direct channel costs for the Inec budget, ensuring financial independence through funds withdrawn directly from consolidated income funds,” he said. “This mechanism, which is strengthened by the 2022 Election Law, is designed to eliminate Inec’s dependence on politically controlled entities, thus healing the historical problem that is not appropriate for the Election Management Agency.”

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Ameh also questioned the Chairperson of Inec, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu that FCDA’s involvement was acceptable because he built the previous Inec headquarters when the commission moved from Lagos to Abuja. Ameh refused that reason as “outdated and could not be maintained.”

“The Nigerian election law has evolved significantly, and such arrangements are no longer acceptable to institutions assigned to make free, fair and credible elections,” he said.

He warned that the role of FCDA in this project raised a serious question about political intervention, especially considering his control under the administration of the Federal Capital City, which was supervised by the Minister Nyesom Wike.

“The fact that FCDA is allowed to start and carry out the construction of a new headquarters that speaks a lot. For an agent under the administration of the Federal Capital Region and subject to political supervision by Nyesom Wike, to fund and build its head office, the risk of INEC that compromises its impartiality and boosting public trust in the election process.

Ameh emphasized that Inec’s constitutional financial autonomy was designed to eliminate these dependences and call the current regulation as the contradiction of that goal.

“This decision is contrary to the purpose of direct line accusations, which empower Inec to budget independently for its operational and infrastructure needs through an allocation by the National Assembly. Public sentiment, as revealed by so many citizens, echoed this concern, with the Nigeran people questioning the integrity of the Election Agency who allowed political actors to influence their operations,” he said.

He further criticized Inec for prioritizing new development projects while the welfare of the staff continued to suffer.

“The same worrying is a priority that Inec is wrong in focusing on the new headquarters while ignoring the welfare of his staff – the backbone of the commission bureaucratic bureaucracy. Employees who manage voter registration, election logistics, and decent results of results to get adequate salaries, and improve working conditions to improve their efficiency and reject their pollution.

“Turning attention to the grandiose project at the expense of the welfare of the staff to damage INEC’s mission to provide credible elections for sustainable democracy in Nigeria.”

Ameh urged Inec to end the agreement with FCDA immediately and instead uses financial autonomy that is constitutionally supported to manage the construction of the new headquarters independently.

“The National Assembly must use its supervisory force to ensure that the Inec budget reflects its infrastructure and operational needs without relying on external institutions. In addition, Inec must prioritize the welfare of the staff to strengthen the integrity of the electoral system.”

He concluded with a strong warning: “The Nigerian people deserve to get an election body that upholds the constitutional mandate of their independence and prioritizes mechanisms that encourage credible elections. Every effort to damage Inec autonomy threatens the foundation of our democracy. We must act quickly to protect the integrity of our election process in front of 20227.