The National Chairman of the Peoples Redemption Party, PRP, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, has revealed how the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, can have free, fair and credible elections in Nigeria.
In a statement on Sunday, Baba-Ahmed, said that INEC must be strengthened and shielded from undue political interference to enhance public confidence in the electoral process.
The former Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on political matters noted that called for a review of the process for appointing the INEC Chairman, National Commissioners and Resident Electoral Commissioners, RECs.
According to him, the current system gives the executive excessive influence over the electoral body.
“The moment you hand over an electoral body to a partisan administration that wants to retain power, you create serious questions about its neutrality,” he said.
He also called for greater financial autonomy for the commission, insisting that INEC should be allowed to present and defend its budget directly before the National Assembly without executive interference.
The former Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on political affairs urged authorities to impose stiffer penalties on politicians and other individuals involved in electoral fraud and violence.
Baba-Ahmed pointed out that the persistence of electoral offences is largely due to the lack of accountability for offenders.
“Politicians who compromise the electoral process must face the consequences of their actions. The culture of impunity must end,” he added.
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