Atiku Pledges to End Presidential Appointment of INEC Chairman if Elected in 2027

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has pledged to end the power of the Nigerian President to appoint the Chairman and members of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) if elected President in the 2027 general election.

Atiku, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), said his administration would introduce far-reaching electoral reforms aimed at strengthening INEC’s independence, restoring public confidence in the electoral process and ensuring that elections are free, fair and credible.

The pledge is contained in the ADC’s 2027 policy document on electoral reforms, which proposes the removal of direct executive control over the appointment of electoral officials.

According to the document, the proposed reform would “remove direct Executive control over the appointment of Electoral Officers, to strengthen the independence, credibility and public trust in Nigeria’s elections.”

The party argued that the existing arrangement, under which the President appoints the INEC Chairman, National Commissioners and Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs), has undermined public confidence in the electoral umpire and created the perception that the commission operates as an extension of the executive arm of government.

The ADC maintained that electoral credibility must be guaranteed through institutional safeguards rather than presidential assurances.

It said an electoral commission whose leadership is appointed directly by the incumbent President could face questions about its impartiality, particularly when the President or his political party is contesting an election.

The party’s proposed reforms would introduce an independent, multi-stakeholder selection process involving the judiciary, civil society organisations and professional bodies in the appointment of electoral officials.

The document also proposes secure tenure for electoral officials to protect them against political pressure, arbitrary dismissal or retaliation for decisions that may conflict with the interests of political leaders.

Under the proposed arrangement, electoral commissioners would be protected from removal simply because they refused to comply with demands from the Presidency or state governments.

The ADC said such institutional guarantees were necessary to ensure that electoral officials could discharge their responsibilities without fear or favour.

“When elections are credible, democracy works. When the referee is not independent, the game is rigged before it even starts,” a source close to the ADC presidential campaign said.

The party’s position comes amid longstanding debates over the independence of INEC and the influence of the executive in the appointment of its leadership.

In 2018, the nomination of Amina Zakari as an INEC National Commissioner by former President Muhammadu Buhari generated controversy and protests over allegations of family ties between her and the President.

Zakari denied allegations that she was related to Buhari in a manner that would compromise her impartiality.

Similarly, the nomination of Lauretta Onochie, a former presidential aide, as an INEC National Commissioner in 2021 attracted widespread criticism over concerns about her political affiliations.

The Senate eventually rejected her nomination.

Questions have also been raised over the appointment of some Resident Electoral Commissioners, with critics alleging political affiliations between certain nominees and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The appointment of the current INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has also generated political debate, particularly as Nigeria approaches the 2027 general election.

However, allegations of partisan conduct or electoral manipulation remain matters requiring evidence and due process.

For the ADC, the recurring controversies demonstrate the need to review the constitutional and institutional framework governing the appointment of electoral officials.

The party believes that removing presidential discretion from the process would help prevent situations in which the incumbent government is perceived to have undue influence over the body responsible for conducting elections.

Atiku’s proposed reform is expected to become a significant component of the ADC’s electoral agenda ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

Nigeria’s electoral system has remained a subject of intense scrutiny since the 2023 general election, when disputes over the conduct of the polls, the transmission of results and the credibility of the electoral process generated widespread public debate.

The controversy surrounding the elections reinforced calls for stronger institutional safeguards, greater transparency and reforms capable of improving public confidence in INEC.

For millions of Nigerians who endured long queues during the 2023 elections and are expected to participate in the 2027 polls, the independence of the electoral commission remains a critical democratic concern.

The ADC said its proposed reforms would seek to ensure that electoral officials are accountable to the law and the Nigerian electorate rather than political officeholders.

The party also maintained that credible elections were indispensable to democratic stability, peaceful political competition and the legitimacy of elected governments.

Atiku’s pledge, however, would require constitutional and legislative changes to alter the existing appointment framework, meaning that its implementation would depend on the cooperation of the National Assembly and other relevant institutions.

The proposed reform is likely to become part of the broader national debate over electoral transparency, institutional independence and the future of Nigeria’s democracy as political parties prepare for the 2027 general election.

The ADC said its objective was to establish an electoral system in which Nigerians could vote freely, confident that their choices would be respected and that the officials responsible for counting their votes were insulated from political interference.