Monday Ubani urges INEC chairman to focus on credibility, electronic reforms, and free, transparent elections rather than probing past.

The incoming chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) faces a critical test in restoring public confidence and ensuring credible elections, according to Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Dr. Monday Ubani.

In an interview with ARISE NEWS on Friday, Dr. Ubani said the new INEC leader should prioritise upcoming elections over investigating technical glitches from past polls. He argued that focusing solely on past failures could delay necessary preparations for the numerous elections ahead.

“He is going to have Nigerians confidence restored to the electoral process, and then have them be interested in the electoral process if he could put through with a number of elections. That should engage him as a priority.”

“Looking at past failures is something he should consider, but not something that should occupy his priority list now. “A number of elections are forthcoming, and restoring Nigerians confidence in the electoral process should be his immediate focus.”

Dr. Ubani praised the chairman’s academic and professional credentials, describing him as “academically qualified, a professor, and a senior advocate of Nigeria. “Academically the man is qualified. I mean, becoming a professor, and then also professionally as a senior advocate of Nigeria. He has all the credentials to succeed.”

He emphasised that the chairman’s success depends not only on his competence but also on aligning all INEC officials across the federation with the same patriotic zeal. “He has a lot to do in terms of ensuring that they have the same spirit to work with in order to restore credibility to the electoral process. Most of the time you can be on top as the INEC chairman in Abuja, and then the other INEC officials all over the federation may compound your problem and make it a failure.”

Highlighting the urgency of the upcoming Anambra State governorship election, Dr. Ubani said the chairman must swiftly evaluate preparations, identify potential gaps, and oversee operations personally. “What he needs to do is to ask questions and then see whether there is any correction in order to ensure that there is going to be credibility in the entire process, and make sure that we have the free information in Anambra, He must ensure that things are put in place. Where I am sure, I will relocate to Anambra and ensure that this particular election is a testing one for him, and he must restore the confidence of Nigeria with the election in Anambra.”

Dr. Ubani also addressed the importance of electoral reforms, particularly concerning electronic transmission of results. According to him, ambiguities in the 2022 Electoral Act contributed to technical glitches and alleged manipulation during previous elections. “The act itself was very ambiguous as to what should be, and that is why some of the things that happened happened. But now that is being corrected by way of an amendment. So if that is corrected, it means that at the polling unit, the result will be transmitted, and then we won’t have the problem we’ll encounter at the coalition centre.”

The ongoing amendment aims to ensure results are transmitted directly from polling units, increasing transparency and preventing manipulation at coalition centers. “If we have electronic digitisation of our electoral process where results are ready, and then we have the problem we’ll encounter at the coalition centre, because that is where all the wrong things are done at the coalition centre. If we have electronic digitisation of our electoral process where results are ready, that took place at the polling unit, is transmitted, and everyone is watching it real-life, people are seeing the result, nobody will come with the issue of manipulation.”

He also criticised INEC’s handling of Freedom of Information requests, describing the N1.5 billion fee to access electoral documents as “exorbitant” and counterproductive. “They have all the instruments to do the photocopies and charge fees, but it should not be too exorbitant,”he said. Dr. Ubani suggested the fee may have been a miscalculation, noting that N1.5 million would be a more reasonable figure.

On managing stakeholders, Dr. Ubani emphasised the need to address political pressures, internal inefficiencies, and public understanding of the electoral process. “The desperation of politicians must be taken into cognisance. The electorate themselves also compound the electoral process.

Noting that election officials at state and local levels must share the chairman’s commitment to free and fair elections. “You must deal with the people that are under you in the system in order to have the same zeal and mind to make the entire thing work,” he added.

Dr. Ubani argued that all Nigerians have a role to play in strengthening the electoral system. “If people must choose leaders, let them be free and fair to choose leaders that will govern this country,” he said. “We must allow Nigerians to make choices and make this country work. We should not allow our children to be leaving this country to go to other nations, where things are settled, whereas we can settle those things here internally.”

He concluded by urging collaboration among all stakeholders, including politicians, electoral staff, and citizens, to ensure credibility. “Everyone must make up our mind that we must have a country that is working, a country where everything is in order, and we must do the right thing at every time to make things proper,” Dr. Ubani said.

With a focus on credible elections, electronic reforms, and strengthening stakeholder cooperation, Dr. Ubani stressed that the incoming INEC chairman has the opportunity to transform Nigeria’s electoral process and restore public trust ahead of the 2027 general elections. (Arise News)