Independent National Electoral Commission
Encyclopedia
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), set up in 1998, is the electoral body which was set up to oversee elections in Nigeria
.
The INEC has encountered several controversies in the run-up to the April 2007 general elections
, including criticism about its preparedness from Sada Abubakar, Sultan of Sokoto
and a dispute over its "disqualification" of Vice president Atiku Abubakar
's candidacy. The Supreme Court
ruled that the INEC can not disqualify candidates, so Abubakar's name was added to ballots at the last minute.
On the subject of election irregularities, INEC spokesman Philip Umeadi said on April 19 that "We are not sitting on any crisis in Nigeria."
under the leadership of Alhaji Shehu Shagari
. It also conducted the general elections of 1983.
In December 1995, the military government of General Sani Abacha
established the National Electoral Commission of Nigeria which conducted another set of elections. These elected institutions were not inaugurated before the sudden death of General Abacha on June 1998 aborted the process. In 1998 General Abdulsalam Abubakar's Administration dissolved NECON and established the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). INEC organized the transitional elections that ushered in the Nigerian Fourth Republic
on May 29, 1999.
(1964–1966) in the First Republic
. When General Olusegun Obasanjo prepared for a return to civilian power in the Second Republic
, he established a new Federal Electoral Commission headed by Chief Michael Ani
to supervise the 1979 elections. Ani was succeeded by Justice Victor Ovie Whisky
.
During the Ibrahim Babangida
and Sani Abacha
regimes, which attempted returns to democracy, the National Electoral Commission of Nigeria was headed by Professor Eme Awa
(1987–1989), Professor Humphrey Nwosu
(1989–1993), Professor Okon Uya
and Chief Sumner Dagogo-Jack
(1994–1998).
General Abdulsalami Abubakar
established the current INEC, with Justice Ephraim Akpata
as chairman.
Akpata had to deal with 26 political associations, giving only nine provisional registration as political parties for the 1998/1999 elections, eventually whittled down to three parties.
Despite efforts to ensure free and fair elections, the process drew serious criticism from international observers.
After Akpata died in January 2000, the government of President Olusegun Obasanjo appointed Abel Guobadia
Nigeria's Chief Electoral Officer, a position that was confirmed by the Nigerian Senate in May 2000.
Guobadia was responsible for the 2003 elections, which were marred by widespread violence and other irregularities.
In June 2005, Guobadia retired and was succeeded by Professor Maurice Iwu
. Soon after being appointed, Iwu announced that foreign monitors would not be allowed during elections, but only foreign election observers. This decision was condemned by politicians and civil society groups who called for his immediate removal from office.
The conduct of the 2007 elections was again criticized as falling below acceptable democratic standards.
On 8 June 2010 Professor Attahiru Muhammadu Jega was nominated by President Goodluck Jonathan
as the new INEC Chairman, subject to Senate confirmation, as a replacement for Iwu, who had vacated the post on 28 April 2010.
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
.
The INEC has encountered several controversies in the run-up to the April 2007 general elections
Nigerian general election, 2007
The Nigerian general elections of 2007 were held on 14 April and 21 April 2007. Governorship and state assembly elections were held on 14 April, while the presidential and national assembly elections were held a week later on 21 April. Umaru Yar'Adua won the highly controversial election for the...
, including criticism about its preparedness from Sada Abubakar, Sultan of Sokoto
and a dispute over its "disqualification" of Vice president Atiku Abubakar
Atiku Abubakar
Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, alias Turakin Adamawa, GCON was the Vice-President of Nigeria from 1999 to 2007. He is a Muslim native of Adamawa State, and was an influential member of the ruling People's Democratic Party until 2006 when he switched affiliation to the Action Congress party...
's candidacy. The Supreme Court
Supreme Court of Nigeria
The Supreme Court of Nigeria is the highest court in Nigeria, and is located in the Central District, Abuja, in what is known as the Three Arms Zone, so called due to the proximity of the offices of the Presidential Complex, the National Assembly, and the Supreme Court.-Overview:In 1963, the...
ruled that the INEC can not disqualify candidates, so Abubakar's name was added to ballots at the last minute.
On the subject of election irregularities, INEC spokesman Philip Umeadi said on April 19 that "We are not sitting on any crisis in Nigeria."
History
The origin of the INEC goes back to the period before Independence when the Electoral Commission of Nigeria was established to conduct 1959 elections. The Federal Electoral Commission (FEC), established in 1960 conducted the immediate post-independence federal and regional elections of 1964 and 1965. The electoral body was dissolved after the military coup of 1966. In 1978, the Federal Electoral Commission was constituted by the regime of General Olusegun Obasanjo, organizing the elections of 1979 which ushered in the Nigerian Second RepublicNigerian Second Republic
The Second Republic was the republican government of Nigeria between 1979 and 1983 governed by the second republican constitution.- Founding :...
under the leadership of Alhaji Shehu Shagari
Shehu Shagari
Shehu Usman Aliyu Shagari, Turakin Sakkwato served as the President of Nigeria's Second Republic , after the handover of power by General Olusegun Obasanjo's military government....
. It also conducted the general elections of 1983.
In December 1995, the military government of General Sani Abacha
Sani Abacha
General Sani Abacha was a Nigerian military leader and politician. A Kanuri from Borno by tribe, he was born and brought up in Kano, Nigeria. He was the de facto President of Nigeria from 1993 to 1998....
established the National Electoral Commission of Nigeria which conducted another set of elections. These elected institutions were not inaugurated before the sudden death of General Abacha on June 1998 aborted the process. In 1998 General Abdulsalam Abubakar's Administration dissolved NECON and established the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). INEC organized the transitional elections that ushered in the Nigerian Fourth Republic
Nigerian Fourth Republic
The Fourth Republic is the republican government of Nigeria. Since 1999 it has governed the country according to the fourth republican constitution. It was in many ways a revival of the Second Republic, which was in place between 1979 and 1983 and suffers many of the same problems, such as multiple...
on May 29, 1999.
Chairmen
The chairmen of the first Nigerian Federal Electoral Commission was Chief Eyo EsuaEyo Esua
Eyo Ita Esua was a Nigerian teacher and trade unionist who was at the helm of the Balewa government's Federal Electoral Commission in the Nigerian First Republic....
(1964–1966) in the First Republic
Nigerian First Republic
The First Republic was the republican government of Nigeria between 1963 and 1966 governed by the first republican constitution.-Founding :...
. When General Olusegun Obasanjo prepared for a return to civilian power in the Second Republic
Nigerian Second Republic
The Second Republic was the republican government of Nigeria between 1979 and 1983 governed by the second republican constitution.- Founding :...
, he established a new Federal Electoral Commission headed by Chief Michael Ani
Michael Ani
Michael Ani was chairman of the Federal Electoral Commission established by General Olusegun Obasanjo to conduct elections leading to the Nigerian Second Republic, which was inaugurated on October 1, 1979. He held office from 1976 to 1979.Michael Ani was a civil servant...
to supervise the 1979 elections. Ani was succeeded by Justice Victor Ovie Whisky
Victor Ovie Whisky
Justice Victor Ovie Whisky was chairman of the Federal Electoral Commission appointed by President Shehu Shagari during the Nigerian Second Republic...
.
During the Ibrahim Babangida
Ibrahim Babangida
General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida CFR DSS mni , popularly known as IBB, was a Nigerian Army officer and military ruler of Nigeria...
and Sani Abacha
Sani Abacha
General Sani Abacha was a Nigerian military leader and politician. A Kanuri from Borno by tribe, he was born and brought up in Kano, Nigeria. He was the de facto President of Nigeria from 1993 to 1998....
regimes, which attempted returns to democracy, the National Electoral Commission of Nigeria was headed by Professor Eme Awa
Eme Awa
Professor Eme Awa was chairman of the National Electoral Commission of Nigeria , appointed by President Ibrahim Babangida...
(1987–1989), Professor Humphrey Nwosu
Humphrey Nwosu
Professor Humphrey Nwosu was chairman of the National Electoral Commission of Nigeria appointed by President Ibrahim Babangida, holding office from 1989 to 1993.-Birth and early career:...
(1989–1993), Professor Okon Uya
Okon Uya
Professor Okon Edet Uya was briefly chairman of the National Electoral Commission of Nigeria , appointed by President Ibrahim Babangida after the presidential elections of 12 June 1993 had been annulled and his predecessor Humphrey Nwosu dismissed....
and Chief Sumner Dagogo-Jack
Sumner Dagogo-Jack
Chief Sumner Karibi Dagogo-Jack was chairman of the National Electoral Commission of Nigeria appointed by President Sani Abacha, holding office from 1994 to 1998....
(1994–1998).
General Abdulsalami Abubakar
Abdulsalami Abubakar
General Abdulsalami Alhaji Abubakar is a Nigerian general who was President of Nigeria from June 9, 1998 until May 29, 1999. He succeeded Sani Abacha upon Abacha's death. It was during Abubakar's leadership that Nigeria adopted its new constitution on May 5, 1999, which provided for multiparty...
established the current INEC, with Justice Ephraim Akpata
Ephraim Akpata
Justice Ephraim Omorose Ibukun Akpata was the first chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission of Nigeria, responsible for the 1998/1999 elections that re-introduced democracy in May 1999.-Background:...
as chairman.
Akpata had to deal with 26 political associations, giving only nine provisional registration as political parties for the 1998/1999 elections, eventually whittled down to three parties.
Despite efforts to ensure free and fair elections, the process drew serious criticism from international observers.
After Akpata died in January 2000, the government of President Olusegun Obasanjo appointed Abel Guobadia
Abel Guobadia
Sir Abel Guobadia was an educator, administrator, diplomat and retired public servant.-Education:Abel Guobadia was born on June 28, 1932 in Benin City, Nigeria. He attended C.M.S. Primary Schools in Benin City ; Government College, Ibadan ; University College Ibadan...
Nigeria's Chief Electoral Officer, a position that was confirmed by the Nigerian Senate in May 2000.
Guobadia was responsible for the 2003 elections, which were marred by widespread violence and other irregularities.
In June 2005, Guobadia retired and was succeeded by Professor Maurice Iwu
Maurice Iwu
Maurice Mmaduakolam Iwu is a Nigerian Professor of Pharmacognosy who was appointed Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission in June 2005, and was removed from office in April 2010.-Background:...
. Soon after being appointed, Iwu announced that foreign monitors would not be allowed during elections, but only foreign election observers. This decision was condemned by politicians and civil society groups who called for his immediate removal from office.
The conduct of the 2007 elections was again criticized as falling below acceptable democratic standards.
On 8 June 2010 Professor Attahiru Muhammadu Jega was nominated by President Goodluck Jonathan
Goodluck Jonathan
Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan, GCFR, BNER, GCON is the 14th Head of State and current President of Nigeria.He was Governor of Bayelsa State from 9 December 2005 to 28 May 2007, and was sworn in as Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on 29 May 2007. Jonathan is a member of the...
as the new INEC Chairman, subject to Senate confirmation, as a replacement for Iwu, who had vacated the post on 28 April 2010.