It Is Wrong For President To Appoint INEC Chairman, says Jega

Abdul SULE (Abuja)

The former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Prof Attahiru Jega, stated that it is wrong for the President to appoint an INEC chairman, calling for an amendment of the 2022 Electoral Act.

The Jega, who made the call during a two day retreat organised for senators in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State said  the electoral law is not perfect and there is need for further amendments to remove ambiguities, clarify and strengthen some of its sections.

According to him, the amendments, should make the electronic transmission of results mandatory from the next general elections in 2027 while the power of the president to appoint the chairman and National Commissioners of INEC should be removed to free the commission from partisanship and favouritism.

"Many stakeholders have expressed concern that section 64 of the Electoral Act, which states the process of transmission of election results, is susceptible to manipulation and misinterpretatio
n.

" I am of the opinion that the section should be clarified by making electronic transmission of election results compulsory which includes uploading of polling unit level results and result sheets used at different levels of result collation.

“INEC would have enough time to prepare for this, if the Act is amended early before the next general election,” he said.

Jega, however, opined that though the country’s electoral law could be said to be the best in Nigeria’s history so far, the law should be reviewed to ensure that all cases arising from the conduct of elections are resolved and judgements made before the date of swearing-in.