Former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Attahiru Jega, has insisted that chairmen of the electoral body should not be appointed by the President.

Jega argued this while speaking at a two-day retreat organised for senators by the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State, on Saturday. He also called for amendments to the Electoral Act, 2022 to remove ambiguities, clarify and strengthen some of its sections.

On INEC’s leadership, Jega said that the President should be divested of power to appoint the Chairman and National Commissioners of INEC to free the Commission from partisanship. He said the law should be reviewed to ensure that all cases arising from the conduct of elections are resolved and judgements made before the date of swearing in.

Ada Peter