A group under the aegis of the Coalition of Democratic Watchdogs of Nigeria on Sunday expressed dismay at the appointment of members of political parties as Resident Electoral Officers, saying such appointments will only spell doom to Nigeria's electoral process.
The group in an open letter addressed to Nigeria President Bola Tinubu, and the international community among others made available to journalists by its spokespersons, Princewill Michael (domestic) and Madam D Markatso Ramatubele strongly opposed the approval of four out of the ten newly confirmed RECs.
Recall that Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced the confirmation of these four RECs through a voice vote during the plenary session.
Raising further concerns about the political affiliations of the four RECs which include:Mr. Etekamba Umoren- Akwa Ibom, Mr. Isah Shaka- Edo State, Omoseyindemi Bunmi- Lagos State, Anugbum Onuoha- Rivers State, the Coalition of Democratic Watchdogs of Nigeria said appointing them as RECs in INEC amounts to an apparent contradiction of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The group said, "Our Coalition has noted with dismay the recent appointment of Resident Electoral Commissioners for the Independent National Electoral Commission by the President and Commander-in-Chief, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, with utmost respect for the office he is occupying.
"Upon our independent verification and fact-finding exercise conducted by our coalition, we unraveled that 4 out of the 10 appointees are card-carrying members of a particular political party, contradicting the provisions of the extant laws as provided by the provisions of the 1999 Constitution as amended.
"In other words, the appointment of card-carrying members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as RECs runs contrary to the third schedule to the Nigerian 1999 Constitution, which prohibits partisan appointments into INEC. The third schedule to the Nigerian 1999 Constitution prohibits the appointment of a partisan person into INEC in Item F, paragraph 14.
“There shall be for each State of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, a Resident Electoral Commissioner who shall be a person of
unquestionable integrity and shall not be a member of any political party,” section 14, 3(b) states.
"Our coalition hereby raises concerns about the integrity of the electoral process and the risk associated with the appointment of partisan individuals to such sensitive positions.
"We hereby express fears that such appointments could compromise
the independence and impartiality of the Electoral Commission (INEC), leading to biased, unfair, and unjust elections in Nigeria.
"As we conclude, we call on the President to withdraw the following names: Mr. Etekamba Umoren- Akwa Ibom, Mr. Isah Shaka- Edo State., Omoseyindemi Bunmi- Lagos State., Anugbum Onuoha- Rivers State.
The above persons are card-carrying members of the APC and appointing them as RECs in INEC amounts to an apparent contradiction of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria."
