Former Governor Celestine Omehia has opposed the call for the appointment of the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission via election, rather than presidential selection.
Mr Omehia stated this on Tuesday in Abuja, while speaking about his new book, entitled ‘Restructuring Nigeria: The Way Forward’.
Mr Omehia insisted that the independence of INEC from the executive branch of government must be examined. He recommended that the chairman of INEC should be appointed via an elective process.
“In my book, I suggested that instead of an appointment, there must be an election to bring in who becomes the INEC national chairman. Then the other commissioners, since the election will affect the states, must go to the province. There must be an election at the provincial level to bring in national commissioners of INEC,” the former Rivers governor explained.
He also suggested that INEC’s funding be provided for in the constitution to save the commission from relying on the executive.
“To make INEC truly independent, their funding, their finances will be contained and provided for in the constitution, and must be released to them like the three arms of government. If they are to rely on the executive for funding, then you know the theory: he who pays the piper dictates the tone,” he said.
Mr Omehia said that his proposals might sound unusual, but in the long run, they would benefit the country, as well as its people.
He said that while the independence of INEC would improve the integrity of elections, the devolution of power would give the sub-national governments more power.