Nigeria: What If the Electoral Umpire Is Partisan?
The author argues that the Nigerian president's power to appoint the head of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is not the main issue, but rather the need for checks and balances to ensure the electoral body's neutrality. The author suggests that the current process, which involves the Council of States and the National Assembly, provides sufficient checks on the president's appointment power.
The neutrality of Nigeria's Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is often questioned due to the president's power to appoint its head. The author argues that this appointment power is not unique to INEC, as the president also appoints heads of other critical agencies, such as the judiciary, police, and Central Bank. The current process involves the Council of States and the National Assembly, providing checks and balances on the president's appointment power. The author suggests that rather than stripping the president of this power, the focus should be on maintaining checks and balances to ensure INEC's neutrality. The Council of States consists of former Presidents/Heads of State, former Chief Justices of Nigeria, and other senior officials, who should rise above political considerations. The author concludes that elections have consequences, and presidents will always appoint people who support their policies and philosophies.
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