Public accountability and democratic reforms advocate, Ezenwa Nwagwu, has urged the newly nominated chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof Joash Ojo-Amupitan, to resist political influence and manage diverse interests to restore credibility.
Nwagwu made the call on Thursday when he featured in an interview programme on Arise Television.
He also urged the Nigerian Senate to conduct a transparent and rigorous screening of Prof Amupitan, stressing that only a strong, credible and independent leadership can rebuild public trust in Nigeria’s electoral system.
“The president has made the nomination, but the nominee still has to be profiled by the secret police and then presented to the Council of State.
“That oversight mechanism needs to be more transparent. I’m worried that all we ever hear is that the Council of State unanimously approved. It would have been better if we knew whether there were votes or dissenting opinions,” he said.
According to him, the Senate committees on intelligence, electoral matters and anti-corruption must engage the nominee thoroughly rather than simply endorsing him.
