HURIWA Cautions Against Politicisation of INEC Chair Appointment

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has sounded a note of caution against the politicisation of the appointment of the next Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

In a statement issued on Thursday, HURIWA’s National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, warned that all the progress achieved under the leadership of former INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu could be quickly undone if the presidency moves to install a politically compromised successor.

“The integrity of the 2027 general elections hinges on the independence, competence, and neutrality of the next INEC Chair,” the group said.

Yakubu stepped down last week after a decade at the helm of the commission, with May Agbamuche-Mbu appointed as the acting chairman.

HURIWA warned that appointing a “stooge” to manipulate the electoral process in favour of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) would not only erode institutional gains but also plunge the nation into political instability, electoral distrust, and international embarrassment.

The association urged civil society organisations, the media, professional bodies, and international partners to insist on a transparent and merit-based selection process for the INEC chairmanship.

“The next appointment must reflect competence, credibility, and non-partisanship, not political loyalty,” HURIWA stated.

The group also called on the National Assembly to strengthen legal and institutional safeguards to protect INEC’s independence and recommended reforms including redundancy measures, improved training for ad hoc staff, and independent audits of result transmission systems to boost transparency and public confidence.

“INEC’s reforms under Mahmood Yakubu are fragile gains that must not be squandered,” the statement added.

HURIWA reaffirmed its commitment to defending the autonomy of Nigeria’s electoral institutions, stressing that the 2027 elections must reflect the will of the people rather than the interests of political cabals.