Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, has said the commission cannot be truly independent without financial autonomy.
Amupitan made the assertion on Thursday at the public presentation of Shadows: Protest Essays on Africa’s Most Consequential Country (1999–2023), authored by THISDAY Managing Director, Eniola Bello.
He warned that the commission’s continued reliance on the normal budgetary process weakens its operational independence and could undermine efforts to conduct free, fair and credible elections in 2027.
According to him, while INEC plays a central role in the electoral process, the responsibility for delivering credible elections also rests with political parties, security agencies, the media, civil society organisations and the electorate.
“Can INEC truly be independent without financial autonomy? If we are serious about strengthening our institutions and conducting free, fair and credible elections, then financial autonomy is essential,” Amupitan said.
The INEC chairman explained that although the Constitution provides for the commission’s funding through the Consolidated Revenue Fund, the existing arrangement does not guarantee full independence because the commission still passes through the regular appropriation process.
He maintained that granting INEC financial autonomy would strengthen its institutional independence and enhance public confidence in the electoral process ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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