INEC positions shoud be advertised – Falana

Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, has said that positions in the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, should be advertised.

Falana made this statement on Wednesday while responding to questions during an interview on Politics Today, a programme on Channels Television monitored by DAILY POST.

He was reacting to the appointments of the INEC chairman and other senior officers in the country’s electoral body.

DAILY POST reports that since the return to democracy in 1999, INEC chairmen have always been appointed by the President.

Speaking on the independence of Nigeria’s electoral body, Falana said: “Positions in INEC should be advertised as recommended by the Uwais panel. What other countries in Africa have done is to put in place a mechanism whereby vacant positions are advertised.

“This was the recommendation of the Uwais panel as far back as 2008, that in choosing the members of the electoral body, it should come through advertisement so that those who are credible to conduct elections should apply.

“Here we are talking about men and women of character and integrity who will apply. Members of the public will be given the opportunity to object to any of them that is not qualified.”