As Nigeria edges closer to the 2027 general elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is calling for deep changes to the country’s electoral laws. One of the most significant proposals on the table is to take away the President’s power to appoint Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs).
This move, according to INEC, is about ensuring true independence. For years, critics have questioned how impartial the commission can be when top officials are handpicked by the very government they may have to oversee during elections. INEC believes removing this presidential power would help strengthen public trust and boost the integrity of future elections.
The proposal is part of a larger push for reforms, which includes better legal timelines for handling pre-election court cases and improving the use of technology to verify voters and transmit results. With just under two years until the next general election, INEC appears to be trying to fix what many Nigerians see as a broken system. Whether the National Assembly will support these reforms remains to be seen—but the conversation has started.
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