The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, has called for constitutional and electoral reforms that would grant the commission greater financial independence and improve its ability to conduct free, fair and credible elections.
Amupitan made the proposal in Abuja while delivering a keynote address at the public presentation of Shadows: Protest Essays on Africa’s Most Consequential Country (1999-2023), authored by Managing Director of THISDAY Newspapers, Eniola Bello.
Speaking on the theme, “Strengthening Electoral Institutions: Pathways to Free, Fair, and Peaceful Elections in 2027,” the INEC chairman argued that placing the commission on first-line charge was not enough to guarantee true financial autonomy.
According to him, INEC still faces funding challenges because its budget remains tied to the normal appropriation process and the envelope system.
“Can INEC be independent without financial autonomy? If we truly want to conduct free, fair and credible elections, there is also a need for INEC to have financial autonomy, ” he said.
Amupitan proposed that INEC funding should be drawn directly from the Federation Account, arguing that the commission’s wide responsibilities require a more stable and independent financing structure.
He said INEC’s mandate goes beyond conducting elections to include registering voters, registering political parties and providing voter registers for State Independent Electoral Commissions.
“INEC should come as part of Federation Account so that it can have a seamless operation and what we call operation efficiency, ” he said.
The INEC chairman also advocated amendments to the Electoral Act to ensure that political parties conclude candidate nominations at least one year before general elections, saying this would reduce avoidable legal disputes.
He criticised weak internal democracy within political parties, noting that imposition of candidates, lack of transparency and disregard for party rules often trigger election-related litigation.
According to him, many electoral disputes begin long before election day and could be prevented if parties conduct credible primaries and allow members a genuine role in selecting candidates.
Meanwhile, Vice President Kashim Shettima, who represented President Bola Tinubu at the event, said democracy must accommodate criticism and public debate, describing them as essential tools for improving governance.
In his speech titled “The Country and Its Shadows,” Shettima said Nigeria’s democratic journey has been shaped by the tension between hope and disappointment, adding that criticism should not be viewed as hostility.
“A government that cannot listen will eventually lose the confidence of the people, because trust is not built by authority alone, ” he said.
He defended the administration’s economic reforms, including fuel subsidy removal and foreign exchange reforms, describing them as difficult decisions taken to address long-term challenges.
Shettima said recent economic indicators showed signs of recovery, citing improvements in GDP growth, oil production, debt servicing and government investments in infrastructure, education and social programmes.
He, however, acknowledged that statistics alone do not capture the full experience of citizens, stressing the importance of writers and journalists in documenting national realities.
“The duty of the writer is not to flatter power, and the duty of power is not to fear the writer, ” he said.
Earlier, former Katsina State Governor and chairman of the occasion, Hon. Aminu Masari, described the book as an important record of Nigeria’s democratic journey over the past 25 years.
Masari said the publication preserved debates, struggles, aspirations and public sentiments that shaped the nation’s political development.
He noted that societies must document their experiences to enable future generations learn from both achievements and mistakes.
The event also featured tributes to Eniola Bello from prominent figures in journalism, business and academia.
Chairman of United Nigeria Airlines, Professor Obiora Okonkwo, praised Bello’s contribution to public discourse, describing the book as another milestone in his distinguished journalism career.
Reviewing the publication, Professor Okey Ikechukwu described Bello as an elder statesman in Nigerian journalism, praising his ability to combine historical documentation with engaging storytelling.
The two-volume book presentation attracted politicians, business leaders, academics, media professionals and other stakeholders who gathered to reflect on Nigeria’s democratic experience and future.
