Former Minister of Education and governance reform advocate, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, has renewed calls for institutional reforms granting the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) greater financial independence and prosecutorial powers to ensure the credibility of Nigeria’s electoral process.
Ezekwesili, speaking at a democracy forum in Abuja, highlighted how financial dependence on the executive arm has hindered INEC’s ability to act autonomously, particularly in enforcing electoral laws and sanctioning violators. She also emphasized the need to strengthen the electoral body’s technical and investigative departments to prevent future manipulation of results and voter suppression tactics.
Her advocacy comes amid rising national discourse over the integrity of Nigeria’s elections, following controversies that trailed the 2023 polls. Governance experts believe that granting INEC prosecutorial authority would not only boost public confidence but also reduce the backlog of unpunished electoral offences that weaken democratic accountability.
