Nigerians Must Know Candidates for INEC Chairman — SERAP Insists

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has obtained by PulseNets, sent a strong appeal to President Bola Tinubu, demanding full disclosure of the process for appointing the next chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

In a letter dated September 27 and signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, SERAP told PulseNets that Nigerians have a right to know both the number and names of persons being considered for the position, as well as whether the Council of State has been consulted as required by the Constitution.

The organisation stressed:

“The procedure for choosing a replacement for Professor Yakubu must not be reduced to a closed-door exercise. Citizens are entitled to transparency.”

It further learnt that SERAP emphasised how openness would bolster the credibility of INEC. According to the letter,

“making the process transparent will reinforce public confidence in the neutrality and independence of the electoral commission.”

The group warned that any attempt to shield the process in secrecy could erode trust in the body responsible for conducting Nigeria’s elections. SERAP also reported that

“whoever emerges as INEC chairman must be demonstrably impartial, non-partisan, and fully independent.”

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Professor Mahmood Yakubu, who has served as INEC chairman for 10 years, is set to complete his tenure in November, making his successor’s appointment one of the most sensitive decisions before the presidency.