As the tenure of INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu and several National Commissioners winds down ahead of the 2027 general elections, a growing coalition of civil society groups is calling for a radical overhaul of Nigeria’s electoral system, starting with who appoints the INEC leadership.

A joint platform of 17 civil society organisations, including Yiaga Africa, The Kukah Centre, International Press Centre (IPC), and Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC), has proposed a comprehensive set of electoral reforms aimed at strengthening the independence, professionalism and transparency of elections in Nigeria.

The proposals were unveiled last week in Abuja during a roundtable where the group released a document titled:

The Citizens Memo outlines 37 key recommendations across 15 strategic objectives, spanning constitutional and legislative changes, as well as shifts in electoral culture.

At the heart of the memo is the demand to remove the president’s sole authority to appoint the INEC Chairman, National Commissioners, and Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs).

The stakeholders argue that the current system undermines public trust and leaves the electoral body vulnerable to political manipulation.

“The Constitution should be amended to introduce a multi-stakeholder process for INEC appointments,” the memo states, adding that consultation should go beyond the Council of State to include traditional rulers, religious leaders, and civil society.

The group also wants to revamp INEC appointment criteria, stating that the current focus on “non-partisanship and unquestionable character” is insufficient.

Instead, future appointees should also meet professional, gender, age, and health requirements, bringing skills in law, IT, logistics, statistics and communications to the table.

Another demand is for the Constitution to set firm deadlines for appointments to INEC, within 30 days of any vacancy, to avoid unnecessary delays that weaken the Commission’s stability.

The memo extends to the State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs), which have long been accused of lacking autonomy.

Recommendations include Removing governors’ control over SIEC appointments, Involving state assemblies and independent panels in selecting SIEC members, Ensuring financial independence by charging their funding to the state Consolidated Revenue Fund as well as expanding SIEC powers to include monitoring primaries, campaigns, and civic education at the local level.

To ease INEC’s burden and improve performance, the memo proposes splitting its responsibilities: Party registration and regulation should go to a new Political Party Commission while Electoral offences prosecution should be handled by a proposed Electoral Offences Commission, independent of the Attorney-General’s office.

Critically, they argue that nolle prosequi powers (used to drop charges) should not apply to electoral offences, citing the need for deterrence and accountability.

To prevent prolonged post-election disputes and ensure that winners emerge before inauguration, the memo recommends:

– Elections be held between 240 and 90 days before the end of the current officeholder’s term (currently 150–30 days).

– Election petitions be resolved within 90 days, down from 180.

– Appeals in pre-election matters should end at the Court of Appeal, especially for state and federal legislative seats.

They also propose ending forum shopping by requiring suits to be filed where the dispute originated.

In a bid to make elections more inclusive, the memo backs Out-of-country voting for Nigerians in the diaspora, Special legislative seats for women as a temporary measure to increase female political participation and Stronger representation of youths and persons with disabilities (PWDs) in the electoral process.

Alongside constitutional reforms, the Citizens Memo also outlines 16 proposed amendments to the 2022 Electoral Act, focusing on practical and procedural improvements.

Key Proposals:

– Allow other legal IDs (e.g. driver’s license, passport) in place of PVCs during voting, given the biometric BVAS system.

– Mandate a public, independent audit of the voter register.

– Introduce early voting for INEC staff, security personnel and journalists.

– Make election info accessible to PWDs (e.g., braille formats, sign language).

– Require INEC to review and adjust polling units every 5 years.

– Strengthen constituency delimitation by introducing a 15% deviation limit.

– Impose sanctions on parties that fail to submit member registers 30 days before primaries.

– Limit last-minute substitution of candidates, except in the event of death.

– Mandate electronic transmission of results, with clear legal provisions and timelines for mock tests of electoral technology.

– Require media fairness, including discounted airtime for women, youths and PWDs.

Clarify liability in media campaign breaches penalizing only the offending media houses, not their executives.

At the roundtable unveiling the memo, speakers including Cynthia Mbamalu (Yiaga Africa), Lanre Arogundade (IPC), Dr. Akin Akingbulu (CEMESO) and Tony Onyima (Paul University, Awka) called on the National Assembly and political leaders to treat the reforms as a national priority.

“Our elections need more than law, they need public trust. And that begins with genuine independence for INEC,” Mbamalu said.

The event, moderated by Ms. Anikeade Funke-Treasure Akintoye, also stressed the need for attitudinal shifts among stakeholders, beyond just legal reforms.

The coalition is now engaging with lawmakers and key institutions to push the memo into the formal amendment process.

With the 2027 elections drawing closer, they argue, the time to act is now.

“We must reform now or risk losing the people’s confidence in democracy altogether,” the Citizens Memo warns.

Former Governor of Kano State and ex-National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has launched a strong attack on his former political ally, Senator Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso and the current Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, accusing them of inconsistency and poor leadership.

Speaking at an APC stakeholders’ meeting held in Kano on Thursday, the first such gathering since Ganduje left office, he dismissed recent speculations about Kwankwaso potentially rejoining the APC.

Citing a report by BBC Hausa, Ganduje said Kwankwaso’s previous criticisms of the party discredited any such move.

“We’ve heard the rumours, but we don’t take them seriously,” Ganduje said. “In politics, there’s little difference between a fake cleric and a thief. Kwankwaso once said only a madman would join APC.”

“He even mocked President Tinubu, claiming all he achieved was in Lagos. Now they want to come back. If they return, we’ll welcome them as madmen who have eaten their words.”

When asked about the possibility of reconciling with Kwankwaso and another former governor, Ibrahim Shekarau, Ganduje said it could be considered if unity becomes necessary, adding that all three have leadership experience that could benefit the current administration.

Turning to his successor, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, Ganduje was sharply critical, calling his administration directionless and focused on revenge rather than development.

“Unlike him, I didn’t start my tenure by launching probes into my predecessor’s administration,” Ganduje said. “But Governor Yusuf came in with investigations and nothing to show for it.”

“In just six months, they’ve received more federal allocations than I did in eight years. What have they achieved with that money?”

He went further to describe Yusuf’s government as “a government of vendetta, lacking in leadership and filled with confusion,” accusing it of spending public funds wastefully on low-impact projects.

On his own removal as APC National Chairman, Ganduje downplayed the matter, saying it was part of a routine political rotation based on zoning.

Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has responded to criticism over his choice of words in a congratulatory message to the newly crowned Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja.

Obi came under fire on social media after referring to the 81-year-old monarch as his “dear brother” in a post shared on Saturday via his official X (formerly Twitter) account.

Critics argued that his message was inappropriate and disrespectful to Yoruba royal customs, where monarchs are typically addressed as fathers or revered figures.

In his original message, Obi wrote:

“I warmly congratulate my dear brother, Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, Arusa I, on his installation as the 44th Olubadan of Ibadanland. His ascension to this revered throne is a celebration for the people of Ibadan and a source of pride for the entire Yoruba nation and Nigeria as a whole.”

Reacting to the backlash on Sunday, Obi released a follow-up statement clarifying his intentions.

He emphasized that he meant no disrespect and often uses the term “elder brother” when referring to individuals he holds in high esteem.

“Certainly, no disrespect was intended in my goodwill message to His Royal Majesty. I felicitated with my dear elder brother, the newly crowned Olubadan,” he stated.

Obi noted that his use of “brother” is a personal style he applies even with other respected traditional rulers.

“Those who follow me closely would know I often refer to individuals close to me, and for whom I have deep respect, as ‘dear elder brother.’ For example, I always address His Royal Majesty Igwe Alfred Achebe, Obi of Onitsha, in the same affectionate manner.”

He concluded by urging the public to consider his motives, assuring them that his words stemmed from “untrammelled goodwill” and respect for both tradition and authority.

The Young Progressives Party (YPP) governorship candidate in the upcoming Anambra State election, Sir Paul Chukwuma, has accused Governor Chukwuma Soludo of mismanaging security funds, alleging the state receives about ₦3 billion monthly as security vote despite persistent insecurity.

Speaking during an interview on Arise TV, Chukwuma described the situation as “disturbing,” lamenting that such a significant allocation has not translated into improved safety for citizens of the state.

“Anambra State Government collects in the neighbourhood of ₦3 billion monthly as security vote, yet insecurity continues unabated in our dear state,” he said.

He criticized the Soludo administration’s inability to curtail killings, kidnappings, and other criminal activities, questioning the government’s strategy and political will.

Chukwuma promised that if elected, his government would directly channel security funds into actionable security measures.

The YPP candidate outlined a comprehensive security strategy, including A 24/7 emergency response helpline, Statewide CCTV network linked to a central surveillance hub, Upgraded police infrastructure and well-equipped patrol vehicles, 21 service centres across local governments for vehicle support, Acquisition of drones, firearms, trackers, and other modern policing tools, Training and allowances for police officers with a four-year mandatory service period, as well as Supervised community vigilante groups for neighbourhood security

“These measures are not only achievable but affordable if funds are properly utilised,” Chukwuma stated. “What Anambra needs is a leader who knows what to do and has the courage to do it. I am that man.”

In response, Ejimofor Opara, Senior Special Assistant to Governor Soludo on New Media, dismissed the ₦3 billion figure as fiction, accusing Chukwuma of political grandstanding.

“The alleged ₦3bn monthly security vote is a figment of his imagination. Not to my knowledge,” Opara said.

He accused the YPP candidate of using Governor Soludo’s name for relevance, adding that the administration has made notable progress in the area of security by supporting law enforcement agencies, empowering local vigilantes, and backing coordinated joint security efforts across the state.

Opara maintained that while security challenges persist, Soludo’s government has restored relative peace to areas once under siege.

Meanwhile, on the campaign trail in Mgbakwu, Awka North Local Government Area, Chukwuma identified infrastructure and security neglect as pressing issues in the region.

He noted poor connectivity between communities, network challenges, and insecurity as major concerns, pledging to change the narrative.

“We will ensure all communities in Awka North become accessible,” he said. “We will also resolve the persistent network issues affecting residents.”

He further alleged that Awka North receives between ₦8–9 billion annually in federal allocations, totaling over ₦30 billion since the current administration began, yet the area remains underdeveloped and unsafe.

“Our farmers have been abandoned. Criminals now occupy farmlands. We will support our farmers and help them scale production, including access to export markets,” Chukwuma assured.