New INEC Chair Will Inherit Burden Of Unresolved Matters, Says Ex-Commissioner

The former National Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Dr Mustapha Lecky, has said that the newly appointed Chairman of the Commission, Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, will inherit a number of legacy burdens and reputational challenges that have lingered since the 2023 general election.

Dr Lecky stated this on Thursday night while speaking on Channels TV current affairs programme, ‘Politics Today’, following approval of the nomination of Prof. Amupitan by the National Council of State earlier on Thursday.

Lecky explained that the most pressing of the challenges was the commission’s damaged public image following the 2023 general election.

“There is no question that the commission suffered a great deal of reputational deficit and damage from the last election, especially because of the way the collations and declarations were handled.

“INEC inflicted on itself an injury that was clearly avoidable, and it lingered without prompt correction by the outgoing leadership,” he stated.

He stressed that reputation is central to the credibility of any electoral process. “Reputation is very important for any electoral process. When people decide whether or not to accept an election outcome, it can trigger a whole range of consequences, some of which may be unsalvageable.

“People act based on emotion and can take matters into their own hands, which may lead to violence and unpleasant outcomes,” he said.

While acknowledging that the 2023 elections were not entirely flawed, Lecky maintained that their management left a lot to be desired.

He said the election itself wasn’t bad, but the management of it, the incidents surrounding it, and the actions leading up to it left much to be desired.

“The incoming chairman must prioritise rebuilding the commission’s reputation, restoring public confidence, and addressing the wave of post-election litigations,” Prof. Lecky stated.

On whether Professor Amupitan faces potential pitfalls in taking over the commission, Lecky dismissed suggestions that the new chairman could easily stumble.

“I don’t see a banana peel in the way people describe it. He’s not going to slip and fall. INEC has a relatively robust bureaucracy that has been strengthened over the years. The directors and staff are well trained, exposed to best practices globally, and experienced enough to support him.”

He commended the outgoing chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, for his efforts in strengthening INEC’s administrative structure, saying that one of the legacies of the outgoing administration was the strengthening of the bureaucracy.

“Staff were trained, exposed to global standards, and are now quite resilient. I believe the new chairman will find a credible and competent team that will help him hit the ground running,” he added.