Skip to main content

SERAP to Tinubu: Ensure Transparency in Appointing Next INEC Chairman

Serap and President Tinubu

Civil rights group, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), has called on President Bola Tinubu to guarantee full transparency in the appointment of the next chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

In a letter dated September 27, 2025, signed by its deputy director, Kolawole Oluwadare, SERAP urged the President to disclose the number and names of candidates under consideration for the role.

The group also queried whether the Council of State had been or would be consulted as required by the Constitution.

Current INEC chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, who has led the commission since 2015, is set to leave office when his tenure ends in November 2025. His replacement will be nominated by Tinubu but must be confirmed by the Senate.

SERAP stressed that the process must not be shrouded in secrecy:

“The selection and appointment process for Mr. Yakubu’s replacement cannot and should not be a closed shop,” the group said.

It further emphasized that only a non-partisan and independent figure should lead the commission, noting that the credibility of the 2027 general elections will hinge on INEC’s leadership.

The rights group also reminded Tinubu of his previous appointment of some Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) alleged to have ties with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), advising that such appointees be replaced with neutral individuals.

SERAP warned that any lack of transparency in the upcoming appointment would undermine public confidence and contradict both the Electoral Act 2022 and constitutional provisions.

The letter concluded with a seven-day ultimatum:

“We would be grateful if the recommended measures are taken within seven days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter. If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP shall consider appropriate legal actions to compel your government to comply with our request in the public interest.”

The demand comes at a time when the independence of Nigeria’s electoral body remains under intense public scrutiny, especially after the controversies that trailed the 2023 general elections.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Ugandan Diplomat Speaks Out After DNA Test Reveals Shocking Family Truth

Chris Rugari, a Ugandan diplomat and Zimbabwe's Consular General to Uganda, has broken his silence after a DNA test revealed that two of his three eldest children are not biologically his. Rugari, who married Joline Kanoheri in 2008, had believed he had a happy and faithful marriage. However, the discovery in September 2023 changed everything. 2008 : Chris Rugari and Joline Kanoheri got married. 2010 : Their first child was born, followed by two more in 2013 and 2015. 2022 and 2024 : Two more children were born, with the last one's birth certificate not signed by Rugari due to emerging paternity issues. Rugari described his relationship with Kanoheri as wonderful and conflict-free, with him actively involved in the children's lives. He signed their birth certificates, took them for immunization, bathed them, cooked for them, and financially supported their education. However, the DNA test results revealed a shocking truth about the first three children. Tragedy struck when...
Post a Comment
Read more

Lagos Woman Missing After Message About Wrong Car

A Nigerian man, Mayor Johnson, has raised an alarm about the disappearance of his sister, Esther, in Lagos State. Esther was supposed to travel from Ajah to Epe to stay with a family friend in preparation for her JAMB exam. According to Johnson, Esther sent a disturbing message to her other sister, stating that she was "scared, feeling sleepy, her eyes itchy, and might have boarded the wrong car." The message was sent on Thursday, April 24, 2025, around 1 pm, and since then, there has been no contact from her.  Johnson is frantically searching for his sister, who was supposed to arrive at her destination to prepare for her JAMB exam scheduled for Friday. The family is worried about Esther's safety, and Johnson is appealing for help to locate her. 
1 comment
Read more

Mother Disowns 16-Year-Old Daughter Over Leaked Intimate Videos

A mother of four, Mrs. Chinasa, has disowned her 16-year-old daughter, Mmesoma, for leaking her intimate videos with a lover to her husband. The videos were allegedly sent to Chinasa's ex-husband, who then shared them with her friends and acquaintances, causing Chinasa immense shame and ridicule. According to sources, Chinasa had created the intimate videos with her lover to keep their emotions aflame during his absence. However, her children had access to her phone, and Mmesoma stumbled upon the videos and forwarded them to her father. The ex-husband then used the videos to ridicule and humiliate Chinasa. Chinasa has vowed to never acknowledge Mmesoma as her daughter again, citing the betrayal of trust and the shame brought upon her as a mother. "I regret ever having Mmesoma as my daughter. She has brought shame to me, and I will no longer acknowledge her as my own," Chinasa said. She fears that Mmesoma's actions may have long-term consequences and that her own grand...
Post a Comment
Read more