The Policy and Legal Advocacy Center (PLAC) has urged President Bola Tinubu to overhaul the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) before the 2027 general elections to restore public confidence in the electoral process.
PLAC, a key member of a coalition of 70 civil society organizations (CSOs) advocating for credible and transparent elections in Nigeria, stated that its recent study revealed widespread loss of confidence in INEC as currently constituted.
Speaking to newsmen in Abuja on Monday, PLAC’s Executive Director, Clement Nwankwo, emphasized the need for immediate reforms, including revisiting the recommendations of the Justice Uwais-led committee on the appointment process for INEC officials.
Nwankwo said, “If we are going into elections in 2027, President Tinubu would need to study reports of the 2023 elections, including the flawed system that brought him to power.
It is time for the country to sit down and prepare a blueprint for the conduct of future elections.”
He stressed the urgency of reconstituting INEC leadership, noting that the current leadership appears unprepared for the next electoral cycle.
“We do not think that the current leadership of INEC is prepared for the next election as it is already tainted,” he added.
Nwankwo also referenced the recently concluded Ghanaian presidential election, where Nigeria’s electoral management body was present to observe the process.
He expressed hope that INEC learned valuable lessons from Ghana’s example.
PLAC further reiterated the importance of implementing electoral reforms in time to strengthen Nigeria’s democratic processes ahead of the 2027 elections.
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