Lagos-based constitutional lawyer, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa (SAN) has called for the unbundling of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), saying Nigeria can’t make any meaningful progress with the way the Electoral body is presently constituted.
In a statement made available to QUEST TIMES on Tuesday, Adegboruwa said the responsibilities imposed upon INEC by the constitution is too cumbersome, making it look like an octopus without direction.
His words “INEC is simply too large, like an octopus without direction. The responsibilities imposed upon the organization by law are too enormous and indeed cumbersome”.
“Non-election related matters such as registration of voters, distribution of voter’s cards, creation and delimitation of constituencies, registration of political parties, monitoring political campaigns, observing party primary elections, funding elections, etc should be undertaken by a different entity from INEC”.
“For instance, under the Electoral Act, 2022, political parties are required to conduct primary elections for all elective offices and these must be monitored by INEC. To achieve this, there will be elections at the wards to determine their representatives”.
“Where on earth will INEC have the manpower and fund to achieve the task of monitoring these elections across Nigeria? And the same INEC is to attend and observe the campaigns of political parties and track their funding?”.
“Observing the behavioural patterns of INEC leaders, from the Chairman to the Resident Electoral Commissioners at least, it is easy to notice some semblance of highhandedness, with the impression of lord and master, as if holding the rest of us to some kind of ransom. With the present INEC, we will only move round in circles”.