Nigerian lawyer and Chief Executive Officer, Yiaga Africa, Samson Itodo, has criticised the current method of appointing chairpersons of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), arguing that the process grants excessive power to a single individual.
Speaking on the podcast Conversations with Prof. Jideofor Adibe, Itodo advocated for a more transparent and competitive selection process that would allow qualified Nigerians to apply for positions within the electoral commission.
According to him, the appointment process should be opened to public applications, with candidates screened by a committee comprising representatives of relevant stakeholders.
“In this particular case, what we have is that one individual has the power to decide who to appoint. What we are saying is that the process should be opened so people can apply for roles in the commission,” Itodo said.
He explained that the eligibility criteria for such positions are already outlined in the Constitution and that applicants should undergo a rigorous screening process conducted by an independent committee.
Itodo further proposed that shortlisted candidates be subjected to public interviews, enabling Nigerians to follow the selection process and assess the competence of prospective electoral commissioners.
The democracy advocate also argued that a parliamentary committee should play a central role in the recruitment process, ensuring broader stakeholder representation and reducing the influence of any single individual in determining appointments before nominations are forwarded to the National Assembly.
According to him, such reforms would strengthen public confidence in the electoral system and enhance the independence and credibility of INEC.
