…Insist On Legal Backing For BVAS, IReV, Other Digital Components
…Want President Stripped Of Powers To Appoint INEC Heads
LAGOS – Deep suspicion currently casts a haze over the 2027 elections in light of the consistent degeneration of electoral exercises in the country over the years.
And, as the National Assembly continues its review of the Electoral Act, stakeholders have called on the Lawmakers to integrate new proposals for fully digitalizing the process and enhancing its transparency.
Recall that the lawmakers recently proposed the conduct of the next elections in November 2026, which is at least six months to May 29, 2027, the date of swearing in the next set of elected persons across the country.
Stakeholders want essential steps to be taken, such as providing legal backing for the use of BVAS, direct transmission of results and IReV – all of which are seen as critical towards minimizing election rigging.
Barrister Olalekan Festus Ojo, a Lagos-based human rights lawyer and strong advocate of social justice, while speaking with Sunday Independent, maintained that beyond conducting elections well ahead of inauguration, several complementary reforms are essential to enhance electoral credibility and public trust in Nigeria.
Barrister Ojo, Managing Partner, Platinum & Taylor Hill LP, a leading law firm in Nigeria, stated: “First, comprehensive electoral reforms must address institutional independence.
He said: “The process of appointing the Chairman and Commissioners of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should be more transparent and insulated from executive influence, perhaps through a bipartisan committee or a special electoral council involving civil society representatives.
“Second, technological integration must be deepened. The BVAS and IReV systems, though commendable, require statutory protection and stronger sanctions for manipulation or non-compliance.
“Real-time electronic transmission of results from polling units should be mandatory and enforceable.
“Third, campaign finance regulation should be enforced rigorously. Transparency in funding sources, spending limits, and penalties for vote buying or monetisation of the process must be prioritised to level the playing field.
“Fourth, security sector reform is crucial. The neutrality of security agencies during elections should be guaranteed through strict oversight mechanisms.
“Finally, electoral justice must be timely and credible. Election tribunals should conclude petitions before swearing-in, and judgments must be transparently reasoned to strengthen faith in the judiciary.”
NOT NEW LAWS BUT NEW ORIENTATION
Barrister Emeka Iheonu, another Lagos lawyer, told Sunday Independent that since the inception of civilian rule in Nigeria, the Nigerian electorate has become more and more disenchanted with the electoral processes that have been manipulated by politicians in a bid to win political offices.
Iheonu’s words: “They (politicians) use all available means, including hiring of thugs and vote buying to manipulate the wishes of voters.
“The electorate no longer turns out en masse during elections for fear of experiencing violence and also knowing full well that their votes no longer count.
“Imposing stricter sanctions in the Electoral Act for any established act of malpractice by any candidate will improve electoral credibility.
“Vote buying and the instigation of violence by any candidate should be severely dealt with. Special Courts to try cases of electoral malpractices should be established at the Local Government, State and Federal levels. This will hasten trials.
“Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) should constantly engage groups and individuals on participating in elections without fear or favour.”
Chief Martin Onovo, a seasoned politician and the 2015 presidential candidate of the National Conscience Party (NCP), one of those who spoke with Sunday Independent, insists that integrity is the foundation of all progressive activities.
According to Onovo, a petroleum industry expert and Head, Policy Positions, Movement for Fundamental Change (MFC), without integrity, no system can work efficiently.
He said: “No measures will work as long as crooked charlatans are in charge. Laws are disregarded by lawless Nigerian rulers. So, laws cannot constrain lawless rulers.
“The ruling party disregards the Constitution and the Electoral Act. So, why do you think they will comply with your new measures?
“In 2023, the ruling party connived with INEC to switch-off the IRev portal and declare fraudulent results. What measures can you recommend against that?
“Elections were recently successful in Ghana, Kenya and South Africa. Elections will only improve in Nigeria when we insist on the rule of law and ethical conduct.
“Mahmood Yakubu should be tried for high treason, but the beneficiary of his high treason is now the Commander-in-Chief. So, who can prosecute him?
“Let us simply agree that this is a maximum dictatorship and stop claiming falsely that we have a democracy.
“We cannot continue to pretend, ignore the root causes and focus on symptoms, unproductively.”
INSTITUTIONAL CHANGES STILL NECESSARY
Apostle Dr Bolaji Akinyemi, a cleric and Convener, The Apostle Roundtable (ART), in a chat with Sunday Independent, maintained INEC has been conducting elections, but not commendably.
According to Dr Akinyemi, “Beyond conducting elections six months before swearing-in, Nigeria must strengthen institutional independence and transparency to attain credibility.
“INEC’s leadership should be appointed through the National Judicial Council (NJC) or a multiparty parliamentary process, not the Presidency. Until that is done, we would remain lost on the Sea.
“Our election platform should be Web 3 driven with blockchain technology for near perfection that will make system hacking nearly impossible.
“Election results must be transmitted electronically in real time, with polling unit data publicly accessible.
“Campaign financing should be transparent and capped to curb vote-buying.
“Security agencies must be placed under an independent electoral security command during elections.
“Finally, electoral offenders — especially officials and politicians — must face swift prosecution in special election tribunals to deter manipulation and restore citizens’ confidence in the ballot as the true voice of democracy.”
Professor John Ebhomien, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), told Sunday Independent that the conduct of elections in Nigeria has generated serious concerns due to widespread rigging and other malpractices that requires urgent attention by Prof Amupitan, the new INEC Chairman.
Ebhomien, financial expert and former Consultant to the United Nations Office on Project Services, as well as a former World Bank/International Monetary Fund (IMF) economist, stated: “To enhance the credibility of elections in Nigeria, the following measures should be adopted: Implement a holistic and transparent electronic transmission system to minimise errors and manipulation during collation, expediting the announcement process and creating verifiable digital records for evidence-based dispute resolution.
LOGISTICAL CHALLENGES MUST BE ADDRESSED
“Transition from Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to an advanced biometric system to streamline accreditation and voting processes, reducing logistical challenges and financial burden.
“Establish a robust campaign finance monitoring system to track political expenditures, ensuring compliance with electoral laws and curbing vote buying.
“Intensify voter education, particularly in underserved communities, to increase participation among youths, women, and persons with disabilities (PWDs).
“Establish an electoral offences tribunal to expedite justice on vote-buying and other malpractices. Ensure the independence of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to guarantee impartiality and credibility in the electoral process.
Conduct regular post-election audits to identify areas for improvement and ensure the integrity of the electoral process.
“Foster inclusivity by engaging civil society, media, and other stakeholders in the electoral process to promote transparency and accountability.
“My candid advice to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the National Assembly and the new INEC Chairman, is to put in place appropriate mechanisms to ensure free and fair elections. That is the way forward.”
Hon. Charles Anike, National President, Eastern Union (EU), a political pressure group for the people of the Old Eastern Region, Bishop Dr Herbert Ekechukwu, an economist and cleric maintained that before the next election, “what we need urgently is electoral reforms.
“The National Assembly should enact a new electoral reforms law that will be tailored to enhance credibility in the electoral process and ensure the independence and autonomy of the commission.
“A committee to oversee the electoral body to ensure and guarantee transparency of the electoral process is to be set up.
“The body should consist of the judiciary and the National Bar Association (NBA) civil society, academia and the religious body
“We need an improved and efficient technology that will promote and guarantee hitch-free, glitches free and error free in the biometric voter verification and transmission of results.
“In the new electoral law, we should discourage very expensive campaign financing to reduce corruption. There should be an increased collection between INEC, civil society, community based organsations and international partners to promote electoral transparency and credibility.
“We should ensure security and safety of the voters. A situation where voters are harassed, traumatised, beaten up and even killed to prevent them from voting in a particular section of the country should not repeat itself in the 2027 elections.
“Enhancement of credibility also involves prompt, accurate and speedy release of election results. Delay in the release of election results makes room for results manipulation.
“All election court cases should be disposed of before the swearing in ceremony.”
WANTED: RESPONSIBLE ELECTORATE
Hon. ‘Lanre Olaide, an All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, in his opinion, said that beyond holding elections six months before swearing-in of the winner, the government and stakeholders must prioritise civic education at all levels to build an informed and responsible electorate.
Olaide, former aspirant to the Ojokoro LCDA Chairmanship in Lagos, stated: “The independence and efficiency of INEC should be strengthened to guarantee seamless electronic transmission of results and strict enforcement of electoral laws.
“Transparency in political party financing is essential to curb undue influence, while security agencies must remain impartial.
“Above all, the judiciary should fast-track election petitions to ensure justice is timely served, rebuild public confidence, and safeguard post-election stability.”
Dr. Victor Mathew, a cleric and security expert, lamented that elections in Nigeria do not reflect the true wishes of the people because of so many factors principal amongst them are the political class and the election umpire.
Dr Mathew, the Executive Director, Kingdom Advocacy Network (KAN), stated: “Before I delved into my thoughts on how to better our electoral system, I believed the idea of concluding elections to enable those who lost and desire to seek judicial intervention to conclude all cases before swearing in.
“This will go a long way in stopping office holders from being distracted by court cases.
“Why we have off-cycle elections today in some states is because some governors were removed from office by the courts.
“Some of my recommendations for a better electoral system are, first and foremost, a change in our culture and value system concerning public service.
“As long as public office continues to be seen as an instrument of power and source of enrichment, to contest for it will continue to be a do-or-die.
“This extremist view of public office is not desiring it to serve, but the other way round, if not changed, we will continue to experience killings, violence and thuggery. Seeking public office should be to serve the people..
“Monetisation of politics is also not helping matters.
Public office goes to the highest bidder even from the party primaries.
“That is the reason poverty has been weaponised so that with pittance the electorate is easily compromised.”
Dr. Rexkennedy Saltlove, a political activist and public affairs analyst, said that the idea of having elections six months before swearing-in, is good.
Saltlove, President/Executive Director, Citizens Rights and Empowerment Advocacy Initiative (CREMA Initiative), a human rights promotion group, stated: “The length of time given; six months, unlike the USA which is two months, is an indication of something not being right.
“That thing that is not right is in the electoral process and conduct of elections. If the electoral process and election are credible, transparent and well organised, whoever is going to court will know that by going to court, such matters are lost or dead on arrival, a waste of money, time and resources on legal matters. This will prevent court cases.
“Thus, the onus of having less contestable election matters in courts that will be taking 60-120 days in courts or more to resolve, is built on existing elections reforms like Option A4, leverage on technology for live transmission, using the BVAS and coming out with electronically printed results, which can now, only be signed on by the INEC Chairman, Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs), Electoral Officers (EOs), Presiding Officer (PO), Assistant Presiding Officer (APO), election observers, security agents.”
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