INEC Shocks Aso Rock: Demands Tinubu, Presidents Quit Appointing RECs!

In a bold move ahead of the 2027 general elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has proposed constitutional reforms to remove the President’s power to appoint Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs).

Instead, INEC wants full control over appointing and disciplining its state-level officials, who would be renamed State Directors of Elections.

Mohammad Kuna, Special Adviser to the INEC Chairman, unveiled the proposals at a retreat with the National Assembly Joint Committee on Electoral Matters in Lagos on Monday.

Key constitutional and legal amendments being pushed include:

• Amending Section 14(3), Paragraph F of the 1999 Constitution to allow INEC to appoint and manage its state and FCT heads.

• Revising Section 6(3) of the Electoral Act 2022 to reflect this new arrangement.

• Ending presidential appointments under Section 154(1), which currently requires Senate confirmation and allows removal only by presidential order backed by two-thirds of the Senate.

INEC argues the reforms are vital for enhancing transparency, accountability, and independence, particularly after widespread controversy following the 2023 elections.

Modernizing Voter Identification

INEC is also pushing for legal changes to allow for electronically downloadable voter cards, replacing the Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), to reduce logistical burdens and modernize voter verification.

Expanding Electoral Participation

Further proposed amendments include enabling:

• Early voting for election officials and essential workers

• Inmate voting for eligible Nigerians in custody

• Diaspora voting for Nigerians living abroad

These would require amending Sections 77(2), 117(1), 132(5), and 178(5) of the Constitution.

New Electoral Bodies and Affirmative Action

INEC also seeks to establish:

• An Electoral Offences Commission to handle election-related crimes

• A Political Party Regulatory Agency to monitor party conduct

Additionally, the commission is advocating affirmative action by proposing special electoral seats for women and Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) through amendments to Sections 48, 49, 71, and 91 of the Constitution.