INEC Chairman Calls for Financial Autonomy for Independence

On Thursday, Professor Joash Amupitan, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), asserted that the commission cannot be truly independent without financial autonomy. This statement was made during the public presentation of 'Shadows: Protest Essays on Africa’s Most Consequential Country (1999–2023)', authored by Mr. Eniola Bello, Managing Director of THISDAY.

Amupitan warned that ongoing dependence on the normal budgetary process compromises INEC's operational independence and could jeopardize the integrity of the electoral process for the upcoming 2027 elections. He pointed out that while INEC plays a central role in the electoral process, the responsibility for ensuring credible elections also lies with political parties, security agencies, the media, civil society organizations, and the Nigerian populace.

Amupitan emphasized the need for financial autonomy to strengthen institutions and facilitate free, fair, and credible elections, noting that the current funding arrangement through the Consolidated Revenue Fund does not guarantee genuine independence due to the normal appropriation process.