By Harry Awurumibe, Editor Abuja Bureau
For the impartiality of Nigeria’s electoral umpire, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), there is need for the Executive Chairman to be appointed by the National Judicial Commission (NJC).
This is the view of the Executive Director, Yiaga Africa, Samson Itodo who was one of the guests on African Independent Television (AIT) breakfast programme ‘Kaakaki’ monitored by Prompt News in Abuja on Monday.
Itodo who was assessing the outcome of the just concluded Edo state Governorship Election argued that although INEC performed creditably well, it could have done better if it is truly independent.
According to him, “INEC is partially independent. It is not fully independent and I believe it will continue to be so until the appointment of INEC Chairman is handled by another body outside the President”.
Yiaga Africa boss said Justice Uwais Panel recommended that NJC should be the appointing body for INEC Chairman and not the President of Federal Republic as presently is the case.
He therefore called for the implementation of the recommendations, adding that the immediate passage of the new Electoral Reforms Act will help in tackling some of the ills plaguing elections in Nigeria.
