Former President Goodluck Jonathan and former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega have raised concerns over political interference in the appointments of electoral commissioners.

Jonathan and Jega expressed their displeasure on Tuesday when they addressed attendees at a conference hosted by the pro-democracy and advocacy organisation Yiaga Africa, in Abuja.

At the event titled ‘Reflection Conference on Democratic Elections in West Africa,’ Jonathan said, “In Nigeria, you can’t get an accurate count of votes because I believe that we have too many ghost voters.

“We must have credible people. From what (ex-INEC Chairman, Attahiru) Jega said, political leaders who are so domineering will pressurise you to do what is wrong; you should be able to resign and leave. You should be able to resign and walk away, please.

“If we don’t have this kind of people, then we are in trouble. And I don’t want any INEC official to say I was pressurised. If you are accepting to be Chairman of INEC or to be a commissioner of INEC, then you should be ready to say, ‘If I’m pressurised to do what is wrong, I will take care of the democratic people and walk away’.

“And if we don’t have such people managing our electoral management bodies, if what we have are people who will continue to go in a circle, we will not get what we want.”

Jonathan further underscored the necessity of strong and ethical leadership in electoral management to avoid a flawed electoral system and advocated for a robust framework to ensure credible elections.

“When both parties are strong, and the system cannot be manipulated, only real human beings will cast and their votes will count,” he affirmed.

The former President condemned the regionalisation of the electoral process which has affected all facets, including religious groups.

“Sometimes, if I listen to the prediction by religious men and women and so on, their predictions tend to go towards the regional interest. So, when the electoral process is so regionalised, we are going to have issues. And that will be controlled by de-emphasising sort of key areas.”

He also pointed to the challenges confronting elections in Sierra Leone and Senegal, where allegations of irregularities, including voter intimidation, ethnic tensions, and controversial results undermined the polls.

“Late last year, Ghana conducted general elections which were indeed successful, despite the application of limited technology. The country, with a reputation of being one of Africa’s most stable democracies, lived up to this billing by conducting peaceful polling and smooth transfer of power.

“The Electoral Commission of Ghana and the security authorities played a crucial role in ensuring the elections were free, fair, and transparent, thereby demonstrating that Ghana’s democratic institutions and processes have continued to be resilient, even with limited technology.

“Two other countries, Liberia and Senegal also conducted general elections with limited deployment of technology. In these countries, the processes were generally peaceful, transparent, and credible with a high voter turnout.

“In the case of Liberia, incumbent President George Weah conceded defeat to the opposition candidate Joseph Boakai after a closely contested runoff, setting a positive example for democratic transitions in the region.

“The pre-election period in Senegal was notably marred by protests, arrests of opposition figures, and concerns about the independence of the judiciary. However, it was pleasing to observe that once the election process kicked in, the polling processes progressed without hitches, resulting in a free and fair outcome.’’

For his part, Prof. Jega highlighted persistent challenges limiting democratic development in West Africa.

“Political interference in the appointment (and/or removal) of electoral commissioners and other electoral management body officials; intimidation/targeting of electoral officials to ensure desired outcomes; obstruction of legal reforms to extend EMB powers (for example to strengthen oversight of campaign finance) or more broadly provide for more inclusive electoral processes.

“Introduction of rules that enable fraud or manipulation, for example through weak regulations around registration or voting procedures, or strategic changes to electoral laws which significantly favour incumbents.

“The withholding of funds and other resources from electoral operations and attempts to discredit the EMB,” Jega stated.

He added that citizens, civil society organisations, and change drivers should continue mobilising effectively for credible elections.

Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC) and its chairman, Barr. Hashim Abioye have filed a lawsuit against the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun and the state’s Commissioner of Police for alleged breach of fundamental rights.

In suit no: FHC/Os/CS/41/2025 filed at the Federal High Court sitting in Osogbo, on behalf of all OSSIEC workers and its ad-hoc staff, the commission sued the defendants for breach and continuing breach of their fundamental rights, illegal arrest and detention, unlawful sealing of the Commission’s premises, as well as threat of further arrest and detention and illegal seizure of properties belonging to OSSIEC.

The Commission and its chairman are also demanding the sum of N2 billion as damages against the defendants, amongst other reliefs.

They are seeking an order directing the defendants to vacate and unseal the plaintiffs’ office premises and immediate release of all staff of the commission arrested for doing their lawful duty.

The plaintiffs also seek an order restraining the defendants from arresting detaining or doing anything capable of hindering the fundamental human rights to liberty, private life and property as enshrined in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Recall that the OSSIEC headquarters was sealed off by the police a day before the Saturday, February 22, 2025 local government elections in the state which prevented the Commission’s staff from performing their lawful duty.

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Niger State has condemned the appointment of a former APC State Chairman, Engr. Mohammed Jibrin Imam as the Niger State Independent National Electoral Committee, NSINEC.

PDP rejected the appointment in a statement signed by Yahaya Ability, State Vice Chairman and Zonal Chairman, Niger North Senatorial District.

“During the PDP administration, particularly under Governor Engr. A.A. Kure, the State INEC Chairman was Alhaji Maman Auna, a neutral civil servant. Similarly, during His Excellency Governor Muazu Babangida Aliyu’s administration, the Chief Servant, it was Alhaji Danlami Dallatu, a neutral person.

“Even during the APC administration of Governor Abubakar Sani Bello, it was Alhaji Baba Aminu, a civil servant, ensuring free and fair elections,” Ability said.

He questioned the governor’s decision, saying, “Why is your own different, imposing your will on the people without carrying everyone along?”

The PDP argued that the appointment undermines public trust and creates fear among opposition parties.

The party emphasized that the Nigerian constitution upholds impartiality in electoral processes.

Ability stated, “No opposition party can confidently participate in elections under an electoral body led by a member of the ruling party.”

The PDP urged Governor Mohammed Bago to reverse the appointment and restore public confidence in the electoral process, to ensure a level playing field for all parties.

The party maintained that Niger State deserves fairness, not a system that tilts the electoral process in favor of one party.

Recall the Governor Mohammed Bago had appointed Engr Mohammad Jibrin Imam to head the NSIEC alongside six others.

They include Barr. M.A. Liman as Permanent Commissioner I, Nasiru Ubandiya as Permanent Commissioner II, Yahaya Idris Abara as Permanent Commissioner III, Capt. Mohammed Baro as Permanent Commissioner IV.

Others are Kabiru Tanko Zama as Permanent Commissioner V, Barr. Amina Guar as Permanent Commissioner VI, and Barr. Ahmed Borgu as Permanent Commissioner VII.

The governor stated that their appointment is subject to confirmation by the State House of Assembly.

A chieftain of All Progressives Congress, APC, in Osun State, Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, has thrown his weight behind President Bola Tinubu over his request to the Senate to terminate the appointments of three suspended Resident Electoral Commissioners, RECs, over alleged gross misconduct in the 2023 general elections.

The suspended Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, RECs were; Ike Uzochukwu, Abia State, Hudu Yunusa-Ari, Adamawa State, and Nura Ali, Sokoto State.

Oyintiloye said the sack of the RECs was a clear signal of the President’s desire to sanitise the country’s electoral system.

The APC chieftain, who said this in a chat with journalists on Sunday in Osogbo, also commended the Senate for granting the president’s request to sack the suspended RECs.

Oyintiloye, a former lawmaker, said the request of the President to the Senate to sack the affected RECs and the subsequent approval by the Red Chamber was a big step towards electoral reforms.

He said the sacking of the RECs would serve as a strong warning to others, that bribery and corruption would not be allowed in the country’s electoral system.

Oyintiloye said the sacking of the suspended RECs would restore confidence in the country’s electoral processes and also ensure accountability.

“I want to commend the president for the bold step to terminate the appointments of the suspended RECs.

“That is an indication that the President is keen to give the country a free, fair and credible election that Nigerians will be proud of.

“The suspension and termination of the appointments of the three RECs; Ike Uzochukwu (Abia), Hudu Yunusa-Ari (Adamawa), and Nura Ali (Sokoto) will serve as a deterrent to other RECs who have similar traits of corruption in them.

“The President has promised to fight corruption and this will serve as a lesson to other public servants that the country is moving forward,” he said.

Oyintiloye also commended the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, for taken disciplinary action of suspension against the RECs in March 2023.

The APC chieftain recalled that Yunusa-Ari was suspended for unlawfully usurping the Returning Officer’s role in the 2023 Adamawa governorship election and making an unauthorised declaration of results.

He said Ali and Uzochukwu were suspended for dereliction of duty, with Ali also facing prosecution over bribery allegations.

Oyintiloye also commended INEC over the conviction of Prof. Ignatius Udok, for electoral fraud, adding that “this shows the commission’s commitment to electoral integrity”.

He said the sentencing of Udok, who was the Collation /Returning Officer for Essien Udim State Constituency seat in the 2019 general election by an Akwa Ibom State High Court sitting in Uyo, was a strong signal that the country’s electrical reform is evolving.

Oyintiloye, however, urged President Tinubu not to relent in his fight against corruption, adding that the fight has started yielding positive results.

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has called on the Nigerian media to back the call for the establishment of an Electoral Offences Tribunal.

The Commission highlighted the need for a dedicated legal framework to ensure the swift prosecution of electoral offenders.

Chairman of the Nigeria”s electoral umpire, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, laid this emphasis during the commission’s first regular quarterly consultative meeting with media stakeholders in Abuja on Friday.

Yakunu said the Commission under his watch is committed to improving the country’s electoral process, adding that prosecuting offenders has remained a major challenge for the Commission.

Yakubu pointed out that judiciary processes are slow, adding that offenders are currently prosecuted in Magistrate and State High Courts, where they compete for attention with numerous other cases.

“A major obstacle to the speedy dispensation of justice in this regard is that electoral offences are not time-bound as is the case with post-election offences through the tribunals,” the INEC boss said.

“Consequently, electoral offences are carried over from one general election to another, which may sometimes affect the diligent prosecution of the cases.

He said the Commission is currently prosecuting 774 electoral offenders from the 2023 general elections in collaboration with the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA.

According to Yakubu, some convictions have been achieved in states such as Kebbi and Kogi but lamented that many cases remain pending.

Yakubu called on the media to amplify advocacy for the tribunal.

Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, in its response, through the union’s Secretary, Achike Chude, who represented the newly elected of NUJ President, Hassan Yahaya, assured the Commission of the association’s continued collaboration, emphasizing that the success of the electoral body is crucial to Nigeria’s democracy.

An Akwa Ibom State High Court sitting in Uyo has sentenced a University of Uyo (UNIUYO) professor of Human Kinetics, Ignatius Uduk, to three years imprisonment for electoral fraud during the 2019 general elections.

The court found Prof Uduk guilty of two of the three-count charge preferred against him by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Justice Bassey Nkanang of Uyo High Court 5, in the judgement delivered on Wednesday, acquitted Uduk in Count 1, while he was convicted and sentenced to three years imprisonment, each on Count 2 and 3 which are to be served concurrently.

 

Another professor from the institution, Peter Ogban who was also arraigned by the electoral body under similar circumstances, had earlier been convicted and sentenced to three years jail term in the trial that commenced in 2019 over that year’s general elections.