The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, has declared that the electoral body cannot attain genuine independence without full financial autonomy.
He warned that continued reliance on the conventional budgetary process undermines its constitutional mandate and could affect the credibility of future elections.
Amupitan said granting the commission greater control over its finances is crucial to strengthening Nigeria’s electoral system, improving operational efficiency and restoring public confidence ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He made the remarks on Thursday while delivering the keynote address at the public presentation of Shadows: Protest Essays on Africa’s Most Consequential Country (1999–2023), a book written by the Managing Director of THISDAY Newspapers, Mr. Eniola Bello, at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja.
Addressing participants at the event, the INEC chairman argued that although the 1999 Constitution provides for the commission’s funding through the Consolidated Revenue Fund, the current arrangement falls short of guaranteeing true financial independence because the commission must still pass through the normal appropriation process before accessing its funds.
According to him, genuine electoral independence cannot be achieved where the electoral umpire remains financially dependent on approvals from other government institutions.
“Can INEC truly be independent without financial autonomy? If we are serious about strengthening our institutions and conducting free, fair and credible elections, then financial autonomy is essential,” Amupitan said.
He explained that despite constitutional safeguards, the commission’s dependence on annual budgetary approvals remains one of the major constraints to its operational independence.
“The Constitution places INEC’s funding on the Consolidated Revenue Fund, and many believe that is sufficient. However, experience has shown that as long as INEC remains subject to the normal appropriation process and depends on budgetary approvals by other institutions, genuine financial independence remains difficult,” he added.
Amupitan noted that INEC’s responsibilities extend far beyond conducting elections, stressing that the commission is saddled with voter registration, registration and regulation of political parties, maintenance of the national voters’ register, as well as the conduct of presidential, governorship, National Assembly and state assembly elections. He added that the commission also provides support in certain aspects of local government elections.
Given the breadth of these constitutional responsibilities, he argued that there is a compelling case for granting the commission broader operational and financial autonomy.
“For these reasons, there is a strong case for giving INEC greater operational and financial autonomy to improve efficiency and strengthen public confidence in the electoral process,” he stated.
The INEC chairman, however, cautioned against placing the entire burden of credible elections on the commission, insisting that the success of any electoral process depends on the collective commitment of political parties, security agencies, the media, civil society organisations and the electorate.
“When we talk about strengthening institutions, there are several institutions involved in the conduct of elections.
Most times, people think only of the Independent National Electoral Commission, but beyond INEC, we also have the media, the security agencies, civil society organisations and, indeed, the Nigerian people.
“The health of our democracy is reflected in the strength of this wider institutional framework,” he said.
He therefore urged all stakeholders to work collaboratively to ensure that the 2027 general elections are peaceful, transparent and widely accepted.
“Therefore, if we truly want the 2027 elections to be free, fair, credible and peaceful, all these institutions must work together,” he added.
On recurring concerns over the appointment of INEC’s leadership, Amupitan maintained that the Constitution already provides adequate checks by requiring the President to appoint the commission’s chairman and national commissioners in consultation with the Council of State and subject to confirmation by the Senate.
Nevertheless, he observed that the effectiveness of such constitutional safeguards ultimately depends on the integrity of those entrusted with implementing them.
“Sometimes, however, the issue is not the law itself but those who operate it,” he remarked.
Drawing support from the views of former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Aloma Mukhtar, Amupitan said Nigeria’s democratic challenge lies less in the absence of legal frameworks than in the failure to faithfully uphold the provisions and spirit of both the Constitution and the Electoral Act.
He also commended Eniola Bello’s newly unveiled book, describing it as an important contribution to Nigeria’s democratic history and political literature.
According to him, the publication chronicles the country’s democratic journey from the return to civilian rule in 1999 through successive electoral cycles up to 2023, while offering valuable insights into the challenges and progress of Nigeria’s democracy.
Amupitan concluded that each election presents an opportunity for institutional reforms and continuous improvement, expressing optimism that lessons from previous elections would help shape a more credible electoral process in 2027.
“Every election teaches us lessons, and every electoral cycle provides an opportunity to improve on the last,” he said.
Credit: PUNCH