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INEC Proposes Measures to Limit the President’s Role in Appointing Electoral Commissioners
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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it is racing against time to ensure that all the impediments that have hindered credible, free and fair elections in Nigeria are resolved before the 2027 General Elections.
Part of the moves is proposing amendments to Nigeria’s Electoral Framework that would strip the President of the power to appoint the Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs).
Prof. Mohammad Kuna, the Special Adviser to the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, said this in a presentation at the ongoing retreat with the Joint Committee of the National Assembly on Electoral Matters on the reform of the Electoral Legal Framework in Lagos.
The proposed change would instead give INEC the power to make these appointments, though with a different nomenclature to be known as State Directors of Elections.
The commission is also pushing for the introduction of electronically downloadable voters’ cards to replace the use of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).
Specifically, the commission is seeking amendments to Section 14 (3) Paragraph F of the Third Schedule to the 1999 Constitution to confer the power of appointing and disciplining Heads of State and FCT Offices of INEC on the Commission.
INEC is also proposing an amendment to Section 6 (3) of the Electoral Act 2022 to confer the power of appointing Heads of State and FCT Offices on the Commission.
Kuna said these heads of state would be known as State Directors of Elections (SDEs).
He said the proposal is essential to promote transparency, accountability, and efficiency in the electoral process. Currently, the REC is the person in charge of the INEC office at the state level.
“The REC, who is assisted by relevant government agencies, undertakes the Presidential, National Assembly, Gubernatorial, and House of Assembly elections in a state and acts pursuant to powers delegated to him or her by INEC’s Chairman and 12 commissioners,” he said.
Among the duties of the REC is to make available all the materials required to conduct an election and also monitors the activities of all ad hoc staff and provides for the proper verification of election results.
Currently, the appointment of RECs, who oversee the electoral process in each state, is within the President ’s purview according to Section 154 (1) of the 1999 constitution.
Section 6 (1) of the Electoral Act reads: “There is established in each State of the Federation, Federal Capital Territory and Local Government Area, an office of the Commission which shall perform such functions as may be assigned to it by the Commission.
“(2) A person appointed to the office of a Resident Electoral Commissioner shall (a) be answerable to the Commission ; and (b) hold office for a term of five years from the date of his or her appointment which may be renewable for another term of five years and no more.
“(3) The Resident Electoral Commissioner appointed under the Constitution may only be removed by the President, acting on an address supported by two-thirds majority of the Senate praying that the Resident Electoral Commissioner be so removed for inability to perform the functions of the office, whether arising from infirmity of mind or body or any other cause, or for misconduct.”
However, the INEC proposal will also confer on the commission the power to discipline erring RECs like the former Adamawa State REC who went rogue by announcing the result of the governorship election which did not fall under his purview.
Aside from this, the commission is also proposing amendments of Sections 77 (2), 117 (1), 132 (5), and 178 (5) of the 1999 Constitution to provide for early, Special, Out-of-Country, Diaspora, and Inmates Voting.
He said the proposal will allow the country to introduce Early/Special Voting to cater for eligible voters on essential services, election personnel, as well as, voters under incarceration, those in the diaspora, and out-of-country voting for eligible Nigerians outside the country during elections.
Another key proposal by INEC is the amendment of Sections 153 (1), 154 (3), 156 (1, a), 157 (2), 158 (1), and 160 (1) and the Third Schedule, Paragraph 15 (b – d) of the 1999 Constitution to create the Electoral Offences Commission and (b) Political Party Regulatory Agency.
The commission is also seeking the amendment of sections 48, 49, 71 and 91 of the 1999 Constitution by Providing New Provisions for Special Seats for Women and People With Disabilities (PwDs).
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, has slashed its fuel pump price for the second time within four days.
A market survey on Saturday by DAILY POST showed that NNPCL retail outlets around Airport Junction and Wuse Zone 6 (Berger) in Abuja have reduced their petrol price to N1210 per litre, down from N1260.
This means that the state-owned oil firm slashed the petrol price by N50 per litre.
This comes barely two days after Dangote Refinery reduced its petrol gantry price by N50 to N1,125 per litre.
Recall that four days ago, NNPCL had adjusted its fuel price pump by N75 per litre to N1260.
With the latest drop by NNPCL retail outlets, petrol prices stand between N1210 per litre and N1305 per litre in Abuja and its environs.
The reduction in domestic fuel comes amid falling crude oil prices, which stand at $69 per barrel and $71 per barrel for West Texas Intermediate and Brent crude, respectively, following the easing of the conflict in the Middle East.
Recall that President Bola Tinubu has kept mum amid the clamour by Nigerians for a commensurate drop in domestic fuel pump prices due to the significant reduction in crude oil prices.
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has said it is yet to receive the Certified True Copy, CTC, of the Federal High Court judgment that set aside an earlier order directing it to register the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, as a political party.
INEC revealed this in a statement issued on Saturday by its Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser to the Chairman, Adedayo Oketola.
According to the commission, although it is aware of media reports on the judgment delivered by the Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja on June 26, it cannot comment on the ruling until it obtains and reviews the certified copy.
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, is aware of reports circulating in the media regarding the judgment delivered on Friday, June 26, 2026, by the Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja, which set aside an earlier order concerning the registration of the Nigeria Democratic Congress.
“However, as of this moment, the Commission has not yet received the Certified True Copy, CTC, of the court’s order,” the statement said.
INEC stated that its legal department would study the judgment upon receipt of the CTC before advising the commission on the next course of action.
“Once the Commission’s legal department receives and thoroughly studies the CTC of the judgment, INEC will take an informed, lawful decision in line with the court’s directives.
“Until then, we cannot comment on the specifics of the ruling, and the public is urged to await the Commission’s formal position on the matter,” Oketola added.
Justice Isah Dashen of the Federal High Court in Lokoja had on Friday set aside the court’s December 10, 2025, judgment directing INEC to register the NDC as a political party.
The court held that the rights of the Peace Movement Party were affected by the earlier judgment because it was not joined in the suit despite claiming ownership of the logo relied upon in securing the registration order.
Justice Dashen consequently ordered that all parties be restored to the positions they occupied before the December 2025 judgment and directed that the substantive suit be heard afresh with all necessary parties joined.
The NDC has rejected the ruling and announced plans to appeal the decision. Its National Chairman, Senator Moses Cleopas, maintained that the party had not been deregistered and argued that the trial court lacked jurisdiction to revisit a matter on which it had already delivered a final judgment.
The ruling has also attracted reactions from opposition figures, including the NDC’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, the party’s National Leader, Senator Henry Dickson, and other stakeholders, who described the decision as a threat to Nigeria’s multiparty democracy and vowed to challenge it through all available legal channels.
INEC, however, maintained that it would reserve its position on the judgment until it receives and reviews the Certified True Copy.
A joint police operation rescued five victims abducted near Ogbere Forest in Ogun state on Wednesday.
They were rescued within 25 hours by the Lagos and Ogun Police Commands, which were part of a joint operation codenamed KOSAYE, meaning “No Space” in Yoruba.
The woman was among the victims who were shot in the incident. Her daughter and sister were among those rescued by the police on Thursday.
NNPC slashes petrol price twice within four days
Lokoja Court order: INEC speaks on NDC, says it’s yet to receive CTC
Just in: Police rescue five abductees in Ogun
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