Civil society organisation, Yiaga Africa, has charged President Bola Tinubu to appoint a competent Chairman as well as National Commissioners for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

LEADERSHIP reports that the second term tenure of the current INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu will end at the end of this year.

Yiaga Africa tasked President Tinubu to search for experienced and independent-minded leaders to take charge of INEC.

Speaking at a high-level roundtable discussion on safeguarding INEC’s independence on Friday in Abuja, Yiaga Africa’s Executive Director, Samson Itodo, warned that poorly considered appointments could weaken the electoral body and undermine Nigeria’s democracy.

Itodo stressed that upcoming leadership transitions within INEC must be managed carefully to avoid eroding the institution’s capacity to deliver credible elections.

“It is not just about meeting constitutional requirements of unquestionable integrity and non-partisanship.

“We also need individuals with proven experience in managing elections, technical competence, mental alertness, and the ability to resist political pressure,” Itodo said.

He urged the president to make the appointment process transparent by publishing the names of potential nominees before sending them to the National Assembly.

Itodo proposed allowing citizens, civil society, and professional organisations to review and submit objections on the shortlisted candidates, followed by a public screening process.

He argued that such measures would inspire public confidence and help safeguard the credibility of the 2027 general elections, which are now just 554 days away.

In his welcome remarks, MacArthur Foundation Nigeria’s Country Director, Dr Kole Shettima, also warned that political interference in INEC leadership appointments could jeopardise the electoral process.

Shettima stressed the need for civil society to mobilise religious bodies, business groups, women’s organisations, and persons with disabilities to campaign for transparent and credible appointments.

He noted that the outgoing INEC chairman could be asked to proceed on pre-retirement leave, a move that would hasten leadership changes ahead of the polls. (LEADERSHIP)