The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on President Bola Tinubu to urgently revisit the appointments of at least three individuals alleged to be members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
In a letter dated 7 June 2025 and signed by SERAP Deputy Director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation cited threats to the credibility of the 2027 general elections.
SERAP urged Tinubu to replace the controversial nominees with qualified Nigerians who possess unquestionable integrity and are not affiliated with any political party.
The letter followed growing public concern over the president’s October 2023 nomination, subsequently confirmed by the Senate, of Messrs Etekamba Umoren (Akwa Ibom), Isah Shaka Ehimeakne (Edo), Bunmi Omoseyindemi (Lagos), and Anugbum Onuoha (Rivers) as INEC RECs.
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SERAP warned that conducting the 2027 general elections under the supervision of electoral officials with perceived partisan affiliations would seriously undermine the credibility of the electoral process and erode public trust in Nigeria’s democracy.
“Holding the 2027 general elections amid the appointment of partisan RECs will make a mockery of Nigerians’ right to participate in free and fair elections and undermine public confidence in the electoral process,” SERAP stated in the letter.
The organisation urged Tinubu to demonstrate respect for constitutional provisions and international democratic standards by immediately nominating independent, non-partisan individuals as replacements and forwarding their names to the Senate for confirmation in accordance with due process.
Additionally, SERAP called on the president to instruct the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, to prepare and transmit a draft bill to the National Assembly aimed at strengthening the legal and operational independence of INEC before the next general elections.
“Sending a draft bill to the National Assembly well ahead of the 2027 general elections to improve the independence and impartiality of INEC would enhance the integrity and legitimacy of the elections, and address the serious and debilitating problems witnessed during the 2023 general elections,” the letter read.
SERAP argued that the constitutional provisions governing the appointment of INEC officials make it clear that those entrusted with overseeing elections must be entirely independent and free from political bias.
It cited multiple sections of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), including Section 156(1), Paragraph 14 of the Third Schedule, and Section 6(4) of the Electoral Act 2022, which explicitly prohibit the appointment of political party members to such positions.
“The credibility and legitimacy of elections depend mostly on the independence and impartiality of those appointed to manage the process,” SERAP noted.
“Without an independent and impartial INEC, the democratic rights of Nigerians would remain illusory.”
The group also emphasised that the government had both legal and moral obligations to ensure the integrity of the electoral process, warning that failure to reverse the appointments would contradict the president’s oath of office and constitutional responsibilities.
“Your government has the constitutional responsibilities to ensure both the appearance and the actual independence and impartiality in the appointment of INEC top officials,” the letter stated.
SERAP further referenced international best practices and Nigeria’s treaty obligations under frameworks such as the United Nations Human Rights Committee and the African Union Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance, which require member states to establish and maintain truly independent and impartial electoral bodies.
It added that public perception of INEC’s independence is critical for ensuring broad public trust and political stability during electoral cycles.
“Where Nigerians have doubts about the independence of INEC, they are more likely to have less confidence in the electoral process, thereby undermining democracy,” the organisation warned.
According to SERAP, treating INEC as a politically-controlled department rather than as an autonomous and constitutionally-guaranteed body is inconsistent with both domestic laws and global democratic standards.
“Anyone to be appointed as REC for INEC must clearly be non-partisan, independent, impartial and neutral. INEC officials ought to be able to discharge their legal duties and implement the Electoral Act without fear or favour,” SERAP insisted.
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It also criticised the current process for lacking transparency, arguing that openly partisan appointees compromise not only the independence of INEC but also the overall integrity of Nigeria’s electoral system.
“The will of the people is expressed through democratic elections. This requires that elections must be free, fair, legitimate and credible. However, the credibility and legitimacy of elections depend in part on the integrity and competence of the body conducting the process, and the transparency of the appointment process for RECs,” the organisation said.
SERAP expressed hope that the President would act swiftly to remedy what it described as a constitutional breach, stressing that urgent corrective measures were necessary to safeguard the sanctity of the 2027 elections.
