The Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has called for an amendment to Nigeria’s constitution that would transfer the power to appoint the chairman, commissioners, and secretary of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from the presidency to an independent body.
IPAC National Chairman, Yusuf Dantalle, made the appeal in Abuja during a meeting with the House of Representatives Committee on Constitutional Review.
He argued that placing the appointment process in the hands of an independent panel would guarantee the neutrality of INEC and boost public confidence in the country’s electoral system.
According to Dantalle, the proposed Independent Appointment Committee (IAC) should include representatives from all registered political parties, civil society organisations, the National Judicial Council (NJC), and members of the National Assembly from both majority and minority parties in the Senate and House of Representatives.
He also called for the abolition of State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs), proposing that INEC should be responsible for conducting all local government elections nationwide.
“IPAC has consistently championed local government autonomy,” Dantalle said. “Politics is local, and citizens should be empowered to participate in credible grassroots elections that are free and fair.”
Additionally, the IPAC chairman urged the government to reinstate financial support for political parties to ensure a level playing field for all, regardless of size or resources.
The proposal aligns with growing calls for reforms to strengthen electoral integrity and reduce executive influence over the conduct of elections in Nigeria.