Situation Room asks Tinubu to urgently set up national electoral reform panel

The Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room has called on President Bola Tinubu to urgently set up an independent national electoral reform panel.

Speaking at a press conference on Friday, Yunusa Ya’u, convener of Situation Room, said electoral reforms are needed to re-ignite citizens’ confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process.

The convener said Nigerians now query the ability of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct credible elections in the country.

He said the call for electoral reforms is being made in light of observations of the 2023 general elections, off-cycle governorship elections and the continuing decline of citizens confidence in INEC.

“In the light of upcoming off-cycle governorship elections in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi states in November 2023, Situation Room is worried about the credibility of INEC and its ability to conduct free elections given shortcomings experienced during the general election of February and March 2023,” Ya’u said.

“Given the need for urgent action to be taken regarding INEC, Situation Room is calling for an independent national electoral reform panel to be set up urgently by President Tinubu.

“The independent panel will need to work freely without interference from INEC.

“The membership of the independent national electoral reform panel should comprise of independent election experts and stakeholders who will review the logistical, legal and administrative shortcomings of INEC as well as make additional reform recommendations.

“The reform panel should also be charged with recommending the implementation of previous electoral reform proposals that have examined the mode of appointment into INEC to remove the recruitment of partisan elements into the commission.”