Peter Obi Calls for Urgent Electoral Reforms to Strengthen Nigeria’s Democracy
Former Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, has called for immediate reforms to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in order to enhance the credibility of elections and strengthen Nigeria’s democracy.
Represented by High Chief Peter Ameh, a seasoned political party management strategist and former National Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Obi made the call during a panel session on “Building Viable Political Culture and Political Parties to Foster Competitive Politics” at the National Conference on Strengthening Democracy in Nigeria held in Abuja on Monday.
Unbundling INEC for More Effective Elections
Obi emphasized the urgent need to unbundle INEC, explaining that the commission’s broad mandate is hindering its ability to effectively carry out its primary responsibility: conducting elections.
He argued that no electoral body globally has such an extensive array of duties. “INEC should focus solely on the conduct of elections to deliver free, fair, and credible processes. When weighed down with too many activities, it loses focus on its primary mandate,” Obi said.
He pointed out that tasks such as political party registration and overseeing voter registers dilute INEC’s core function, which should be the sole responsibility of the commission.
“INEC has become overburdened with tasks that are not directly related to its core function. For example, overseeing political party activities, which should be a separate mandate, distracts from its essential responsibility to run elections,” he stated.
Proposing a Political Party Registration and Oversight Commission
Obi proposed the establishment of a Political Party Registration and Oversight Commission to manage party affairs and enforce democratic principles within political parties. This body, he argued, would help ensure that political parties adhere to the standards of internal democracy, which is essential for political stability.
“A separate body is needed to oversee how parties conduct their activities and ensure they adhere to democratic principles. Political parties must be accountable, transparent, and operate with internal democracy,” he said.
The Need for Constitutional Amendments
In addition to structural reforms within INEC, Obi also discussed the need for constitutional amendments to make the electoral process more efficient and cohesive. He highlighted sections such as 132(2), 174(2), 64(1), and 105(1) that currently allow for staggered elections, contributing to inefficiency and voter fatigue.
He proposed that all elections—presidential, National Assembly, governorship, and state assembly—should be conducted on the same day, which could significantly reduce costs, increase voter participation, and prevent the political advantage gained by some parties through split elections.
“If we conduct all the elections on the same day, we can save over 50 percent in election costs, and the voter apathy that we experience will also diminish. It’s time to rethink our electoral process and make changes that will restore the people’s faith in the system,” Obi stated.
A Call for Reforms to Restore Democracy
Obi concluded by emphasizing that political reforms are necessary not only to improve INEC’s functionality but also to ensure a more equitable and efficient political system in Nigeria. He stressed that the country’s democracy cannot thrive if the election process is flawed.
“We must fix INEC to fix our democracy. This will allow for a credible, transparent electoral process that will lead to the better governance we need,” Obi said.
