Political analyst Usman Bugaje has criticized the current process of appointing the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) by the President of Nigeria, describing any election conducted under such an arrangement as a sham.
Bugaje argues that allowing the President to appoint the electoral umpire compromises the independence and credibility of the electoral body, undermining the democratic process.
He pointed out widespread calls for reforms, including recommendations from the Justice Uwais Electoral Reform Committee that suggest the National Judicial Council (NJC) or an independent body should oversee the appointment to insulate the process from executive interference.
The appointment process currently involves multiple layers: the President nominates a candidate, who is then screened by the Department of State Services (DSS), reviewed by the Council of State, and finally confirmed by the Senate.
Despite these layers, Bugaje contends that the system remains flawed because the executive branch heavily influences the process, making it vulnerable to manipulation and politicization.
Pro-democracy activists and civil society organizations have expressed similar concerns, urging for transparent and depoliticized mechanisms for selecting INEC leadership to preserve electoral integrity.
Bugaje’s critique highlights the larger debate over how to safeguard Nigeria’s democracy by reforming institutional appointments to ensure truly independent election management.