Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan (SAN), has challenged political parties to strengthen internal democracy by conducting transparent, credible and inclusive primary elections, warning that most election-related disputes originate long before Nigerians cast their votes.
Amupitan said political parties could only strengthen Nigeria's democracy by respecting their constitutions, adhering to established rules and giving members a genuine voice in the nomination of candidates.
He warned that imposition of candidates, opaque primary election processes and disregard for party guidelines had continued to fuel avoidable pre-election litigation, weaken public confidence and undermine the integrity of the electoral process.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday said the INEC Chairman made the remarks in Abuja while delivering the keynote address, "Strengthening Electoral Institutions: Pathways to Free, Fair and Peaceful Elections in 2027," at the public presentation of Shadows: Protest Essays on Africa's Most Consequential Country (1999–2023), a two-volume work authored by the Managing Director of THISDAY Newspapers, Mr. Eniola Bello.
He advocated an amendment to the Electoral Act to ensure that political parties conclude the nomination of candidates at least one year before general elections, arguing that early resolution of nomination disputes would substantially reduce election-related litigation and enable the Commission to concentrate on its constitutional responsibility of conducting credible elections.
According to him, many of the court cases that accompany elections are rooted in disagreements arising from party primaries rather than the conduct of elections themselves.
Amupitan observed that strengthening internal democracy within political parties was as important as strengthening the nation's electoral institutions, stressing that credible elections begin with credible candidate selection processes.
The INEC Chairman, however, argued that the Commission itself requires greater institutional protection to effectively discharge its constitutional mandate. He called for constitutional and electoral reforms that would guarantee genuine financial autonomy for the electoral body, insisting that the current first-line charge arrangement had not fully insulated the Commission from the limitations of the annual appropriation process.
According to him, although Section 81(3) of the Constitution places INEC on first-line charge, the Commission still operates within the conventional budgetary envelope system, making it difficult to achieve the level of operational efficiency expected of an independent electoral management body.
He therefore proposed that funding for the Commission should be drawn directly from the Federation Account to ensure seamless operations and enable INEC to discharge its constitutional responsibilities—including voter registration, regulation of political parties and the conduct of elections—without unnecessary administrative constraints.
Amupitan maintained that strengthening electoral institutions requires more than constitutional safeguards. He said it also demands ethical leadership, stronger institutions, adherence to democratic values and commitment by all stakeholders to the rule of law.
Vice President Kashim Shettima, represented by his Special Adviser on General Duties, Aliyu Modibbo, said democracy thrives when governments tolerate criticism and remain accountable to the people.
He noted that journalism, literature and civic engagement remain indispensable to democratic development because they compel those in authority to remain accountable, adding that governments which fail to listen to citizens ultimately risk losing public confidence.
The event attracted senior government officials, jurists, diplomats, media executives, academics, civil society leaders and other distinguished guests who gathered to celebrate Bello's contribution to documenting Nigeria's democratic journey from 1999 to 2023.
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