In an interview with The Nigerian Tribune, Mr. Olufemi Aduwo—who also serves as the Chairman of the CSO-African Countries Group of the World Bank and the Permanent Representative of the Centre for Convention on Democratic Integrity (CCDI) to ECOSOC/UN]—discussed the state of the Nigerian electoral system and the issues that have recently affected the independence of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
While he was talking regarding the independence of the INEC, he said that democracy everywhere in the world is a process, and both in its growth and in the way it collapses.
He said, “By God’s grace, I have been close to and worked with two past INEC chairmen. In fact, there were instances where I was at the office of one of the past chairmen and the then SGF just walked into the place to deliver some instructions to the chairman. It happened before my eyes, though I did not hear what they were saying.”
He said he could discern their intentions from their body language and expressions, and what he wants to emphasize is that the term ‘Independent’ that is associated with the commission’s name, ‘Independent National Electoral Commission’ is a product of the military leaders who established it, and it has not truly made the commission independent.
Further talking, he said that the heart of the matter is whether, over the past two decades, the people holding positions in INEC, are genuinely credible and trustworthy, as he asked how they were appointed, and the process behind their selection.
