Ex-Presidential Candidate Seeks New Electoral Reforms Ahead 2027

• Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim called for reforms to make the leadership of INEC truly independent and proposed advertising positions like the INEC chairman
• He emphasized the importance of shifting the burden of proof of a credible election to INEC in the Electoral Act

Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, a former presidential candidate and APC chieftain, has called for further reform of the Electoral Act to address the recruitment of the leadership of the nation’s electoral umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and make it truly independent from external control and influence ahead of the 2027 election.

INEC was established by the Federal Republic of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution to, among other things, organize elections for various political offices in the country.

Section 15, Part 1 of the Third Schedule of the 1999 Constitution (As Amended) and Section 2 of the Electoral Act 2010 (As Amended) define the functions of the electoral umpire.

In an interview with journalists in Abuja, Olawepo-Hashim suggested that the position of chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and National Commissioners be advertised rather than appointed by the president.

He also emphasized the importance of the Electoral Act putting the burden of proof of a credible election on INEC rather than the petitioner.

Recalling the role of activists (including himself) during military regimes, he suggested that positions for INEC chairman and national commissioners be advertised and that the National Judicial Service Commission (NJSC) serve as an independent collation agency.

In 1999, we won the election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). But who were those that asked for an independent electoral commission? We were the ones. We were not behaving like people who were sure they were going to get power, because we were believers in democracy.

So, Nigerians need believers in democracy across parties to survive, not APC and PDP. This is beyond APC, PDP. If we don’t ‘sort out’ the electoral system right now, and not six months to election, or one year, the 2027 election is going to be a war. Nobody will be going to court. We don’t want that now.

Nigeria needs statesmen not politicians. We don’t need politicians in the drivers’ seats of the reform of our state institutions. We need statesmen to speak up, Hashim maintained adding that the issue of electoral reform is not the business for the opposition alone but everyone who loves Nigeria.