The National Chairman of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, has called for urgent reforms to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to guarantee free, fair and credible elections in 2027.
Speaking in Abuja on Sunday, Mr Baba-Ahmed argued that the commission must be strengthened to insulate it from undue political influence. He proposed a review of the appointment process for the INEC chairman, national commissioners and resident electoral commissioners to reduce executive control over the electoral body.
“The moment you hand over an electoral body to a partisan administration that wants to retain power, you create serious questions about its neutrality,” he said.
The PRP national chairman also advocated for budgetary independence for INEC, insisting that the commission should be allowed to defend its budget independently before the National Assembly.
He further called for tougher sanctions against politicians and individuals who engage in electoral malpractices and violence. According to him, electoral offences continue to thrive because perpetrators are rarely punished.
“Politicians who compromise the electoral process must face the consequences of their actions. The culture of impunity must end,” Mr Baba‑Ahmed said.
A former secretary to INEC, he warned that any election lacking credibility could further weaken Nigeria’s democracy and undermine public confidence in democratic institutions.
He added that broader reforms to strengthen key institutions such as INEC would be central to the PRP’s restructuring agenda for the country.
