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 claimed that the INEC is not independent because the agency is answerable to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, as the people holding notable positions in the Commission were appointed by politicians, so that they can later use them during election period.
He said, “It is in this same country that we had someone like Mike Igini, who performed credibly well as a REC. The question is why hasn’t he been elevated into the position of a chairman or another top office ? Yet, we have had some people who are dubious and cannot even do anything, yet they are holding top positions in the commission.”
Further talking, he said that it is not the matter of the name that is associated with the commission, but rather the individuals within it. He said another thing that matters is how INEC interprets the electoral act, and the implementation of technology, particularly BVAS and IReV.
