The Socio‐Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on President Bola Tinubu to nominate politically neutral, integrity‐driven Nigerians as Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) and submit their names for Senate confirmation ahead of the 2027 elections.
In a statement by Deputy Director Kolawole Oluwadare, SERAP highlighted that current REC appointments—widely perceived as APC affiliates—undermine public confidence in INEC’s impartiality.
SERAP further urged Tinubu to instruct Attorney General Lateef Fagbemi to draft legislation fortifying INEC’s independence, in line with constitutional mandates and international electoral norms.
The group noted that an unbiased electoral commission is essential for credible elections, citing sections of the Nigerian Constitution and Electoral Act that bar party members from serving as RECs and require appointees to be persons of “unquestionable integrity.”
Referencing United Nations and African Union standards, SERAP warned that failure to insulate INEC from ruling‐party influence risks eroding democratic legitimacy.
The organization urged swift action: replacing REC appointees with competent, non‐partisan individuals and advancing a legal framework that guarantees INEC’s autonomy and accountability, thereby safeguarding Nigerians’ electoral rights.
