INEC Moves to Strip President of Power to Appoint Electoral Commissioners, Discipline Officials in 2027 Reform Push

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is seeking sweeping constitutional and legal reforms that would remove the President’s power to appoint Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs), as part of broader efforts to enhance credibility and transparency in Nigeria’s electoral process ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Prof. Mohammad Kuna, Special Adviser to the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, disclosed this during a retreat in Lagos with the National Assembly Joint Committee on Electoral Matters. He stated that the commission is pushing for amendments that would transfer the appointment of RECs—who currently oversee elections in the states—from the President to the commission itself. These officials would be renamed State Directors of Elections (SDEs), and would also be subject to disciplinary measures by INEC.

Kuna emphasized that the reform is aimed at boosting transparency, accountability, and efficiency in the administration of elections. Under the current framework, RECs are appointed by the President and can only be removed with Senate approval, making them less directly accountable to the electoral body. The proposed changes would affect Section 14 (3) Paragraph F of the Third Schedule to the 1999 Constitution and Section 6 (3) of the Electoral Act 2022.

INEC is also advocating for the introduction of electronically downloadable voter cards to replace Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), in a move intended to modernize voter identification and reduce logistical challenges.

Other significant proposals include amendments to allow early, special, out-of-country, diaspora, and inmate voting, which would provide voting access to Nigerians in essential services, those abroad, and incarcerated persons. This would require changes to Sections 77 (2), 117 (1), 132 (5), and 178 (5) of the 1999 Constitution.

Additionally, the commission is proposing the creation of an Electoral Offences Commission and a Political Party Regulatory Agency through amendments to Sections 153 (1), 154 (3), 156 (1a), 157 (2), 158 (1), and 160 (1), along with changes to the Third Schedule of the Constitution. These bodies would be tasked with investigating and prosecuting electoral offences and regulating the activities of political parties.

INEC is also seeking constitutional amendments—specifically Sections 48, 49, 71, and 91—to create special seats for women and persons with disabilities (PwDs), a move aimed at promoting inclusive representation in governance.

The commission noted that these reforms are critical if Nigeria is to hold free, fair, and credible elections in 2027, free from the structural weaknesses and political interference that have marred previous polls.