A civil society organisation, Peering Advocacy and Advancement Centre in Africa (PAACA), has raised concerns over what it described as a violation of the Federal Character Principle in the recent appointment of the National Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

In a letter addressed to President Bola Tinubu, PAACA executive director, Ezenwa Nwagwu, cited the recent appointment of Mr Abdulrazak Yusuf Tukur from Katsina State as a National Commissioner by the President.

Nwagwu said that the appointment, which adds a third representative from the North West geopolitical zone, constitutes ?a clear violation of the Federal Character Principle, which mandates balanced representation of Nigeria?s diverse geopolitical zones.?

He explained that the northwest geopolitical zone is currently represented by two National Commissioners, Professor Abdullahi Abdu Zuru from Kebbi State and Professor Muhammed Sani Kallah from Katsina State.

According to him, ?Adding a third National Commissioner from the same region breaks the longstanding practice of equal representation in INEC appointments across the six geopolitical zones and undermines public trust in a balanced and impartial electoral body.?

He said, ?Your Excellency, there is no public information indicating that Professor Muhammed Sani Kallah from Katsina has resigned as a National Commissioner or that a vacancy exists in this position. This raises questions about the need for appointing a third representative from the North West, particularly from the same state.?

The PAACA boss explained that since its inception, INEC has followed a structure in which each geopolitical zone is represented by two national commissioners, noting that the recent decision to appoint a third National Commissioner from the North West?while leaving the South East with only one representative since July 2023?breaks this established balance and sets a concerning precedent.

He said, ?It is important to respectfully draw your attention that it has now been one year and four months since Barr. Festus Okoye, the former National Commissioner representing the South East, completed his first tenure in July 2023. Despite the South East?s vacancy remaining unfilled, this recent appointment rushed to fill the North West?s vacancy instead, thus elevating the representation of one region above others.?

Nwagwu urged the president to prioritise filling the South East?s long-standing vacancy with a qualified National Commissioner from that region, restoring the balanced representation in INEC.

He said, ?This delay in filling the South East vacancy and the rush to add a third representative to the North West raises significant questions about the fairness and impartiality of INEC?s composition. Such actions suggest a regional imbalance that could impact the Commission?s ability to conduct elections credibly, especially as we approach the 2027 general elections.

?It is our humble opinion that for INEC to fulfil its mandate effectively, it must embody impartiality and reflect the balanced representation of Nigeria?s diverse geopolitical regions. The current over-representation of the North West and the under-representation of the South East undermines the public?s confidence in the Commission?s ability to conduct free and fair elections. As Nigeria prepares for the 2027 elections, these imbalances create significant credibility concerns that could undermine trust in the electoral process and INEC?s role as an unbiased institution,? he added.

The PAACA boss also urged the President to reconsider the appointment of two national commissioners from the same Katsina State to avoid breaching the Federal Character Principle. (Nigerian Tribune)

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