2023: TMG, Yiaga Africa, others reject appointment of politicians as REC, INEC commissioners

The Transition Monitoring Group (TMG), Yiaga Africa and a coalition of civil society organisations (CSOs) have protested the appointment of some persons as Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Commissioners and states Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs).

In a statement on Saturday, Chairman, TMG, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, expressed worry over the reported surreptitious nominations of card-carrying members of the All Progressive Congress (APC) into the decision making structure of INEC.

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He said this could be a strategy to influence the process and outcome of 2023 general elections.

“While the provisions of 1999 Constitution are clear on the compositions, and major appointments into structure of the Electoral Body, we are displeased by the apparent partisanship and favouritism reported through the nominations of the party’s card-carrying members as INEC Commissioners and State Resident Electoral Commissioners.

“Some Nigerians alleged that the recent unmerited promotions and strategic deployments across the country initiated within the commission was to upturn votes or create inconclusive situations that will be exploited by unscrupulous politicians in forcing or rigging their way into power.

“TMG on this note call on President Muhammadu Buhari consider for immediate replacements, persons of integrity and unquestionable character, to demonstrate non-partisanship in the selections and nominations,” Rafsanjani said.

He also urged the National Assembly to reject confirmation of all nominated party chieftains and insist on transparency and non-partisanship in the selections, to uphold democratic value and electoral integrity, while proving respect for the sanity and sanctity of the rule of law.

Also, a coalition of nine notable CSOs at a news conference in Abuja faulted the nomination of four of the 19 RECs nominees by President Muhammadu Buhari.

They said that the affected REC nominees were either card-carrying members of political parties, relatives of registered political parties, or inducted for corruption.

The coalition members are Yiaga Africa, Samson Itodo and Cynthia Mbamalu; International Press Center (IPC), Lanre Arogundade; Center for Media and Society (CMS), Dr. Akin Akingbulu; The Albino Foundation (TAF), Jake Epelle; Elect Her; Nigerian Women Trust Fund (NWTF), Bosede Jaiyeola; Partners for Electoral Reform (PER), Ezenwa Nwagwu; Inclusive Friends Association (IFA); and The Kukah Centre, Espom Ajanya.

They noted that appointments into INEC have grave implications for the credibility, independence and capacity of the commission to deliver credible, transparent, inclusive and conclusive elections.