Yiaga Africa and other civil society organizations have called on the Senate to ensure it carried out its constitutional responsibility in the screening of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) chairman-nominee, Prof. Joash Amupitan (SAN), despite unanimous approval by the National Executive Council.
The group tasked the Senate on Friday in a statement jointly signed by 10 different civil society a organizations.
The statement reads in part: “We, the undersigned civil society organizations working on democracy and elections in Nigeria and across Africa, acknowledge the announcement by the Presidency on the nomination of Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN) as Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), following the conclusion of Professor Mahmood Yakubu’s tenure.
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“This comes after consultation with the Council of State, which reportedly granted unanimous approval to his nomination.
“We must, however, note that the Council of State approval does not replace the duty of the Nigerian Senate to conduct due diligence through rigorous and transparent screening process that inspires public trust.
“We reiterate our longstanding call for a transparent, inclusive and citizens-centered appointment process that is consistent with the recommendations of key electoral reform interventions like the Justice Uwais Report, Ken Nnamani committee report, and the Citizens Memorandum on Electoral Reforms.”
Stating their position on the development, the CSOs said: “We acknowledge Professor Amupitan’s academic and professional accomplishments; therefore, we have no objection in principle to his nomination.
“However, the current state of Nigeria’s electoral process requires a fiercely independent INEC, immune to political manipulation, and unwavering in its commitment to credible elections.
“Consequently, as the next INEC Chairman, if confirmed by the
Senate, he must demonstrate moral courage, and resistance to political interference. INEC works better when it is insulated from political interference.“
The CSOs, therefore, called on the Senate to be transparent and ensure the screening is given live coverage by media houses.
“We call on the Senate to ensure that its confirmation hearings are transparent, televised, and inclusive of citizen and civil society input through memoranda, petitions and participation in the confirmation hearings.
“The Senate should undertake a rigorous examination of his competence, public records, vision for electoral reform, INEC’s institutional strengthening, as well as his capacity to resist political interference and uphold electoral integrity.
“The Senate should also interrogate the nominee’s plans to address systemic challenges, including voter registration, result transmission, and enforcement of INEC’s regulations and guidelines.
“Nigerians expect the Senate confirmation process to be open to citizens’ participation in line with the Framework for Citizens Engagement in the INEC Appointment Process previously submitted to the Senate by the undersigned civil society organizations.
“This includes full disclosure of the nominee’s credentials, public service history, and capacity to manage elections without political interference,” it added.
The statement was jointly signed by Yiaga Africa, Women Rights Advancement Protection Alternative (WRAPA), International Press Centre, The Kukah Centre, Centre for Media and Society, TAF Africa, African Centre for Leadership, Strategy & Development (Centre LSD), Nigeria Women Trust Fund, Accountability Lab, Nigeria, YERP Naija Campaign.