IIARD International Institute of Academic Research and Development

JOURNAL OF HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL POLICY (JHSP )

E-ISSN 2545-5729
P-ISSN 2695 2416
VOL. 11 NO. 2 2025
DOI: 10.56201/jhsp.vol.11.no2.2025.pg61.102

---

Repositioning and Strengthening INEC and the Justice System Towards Conducting Transparent and Credible Elections Come 2027

Stephen L W Nyeenenwa PhD, Mohammed Ndarani Mohammed

---

Abstract

January, 2025 is here and there is no denying the fact that for political actors in Nigeria, the hustle and bustle towards securing a re-election has grown past fever-heat. The last we saw of the general elections of 2023, which produced Senator Bola Tinubu, as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and produced Distinguished Senators of the Nigerian Senate, Members of the Federal House of Representatives, Governors for the 36 States, Membership of the 36 States’ Houses of Assembly and executives of the FCT Municipal Councils have now been conscripted to the refuse heap of history. How much time do we have to plan towards implementing and applying our lessons from the February, 25, 2023 Presidential and consequential elections? This research is directed at drawing out a set of genuine suggestions and developing a flawless arrangement that will deliver a free, fair and credible election to Nigerians. Our findings corroborate local and international commentators and monitors that the electoral process was largely flawed, and that the porosity and non-bindingness of the Electoral Act, 2022 and the 1999 Constitution were in issue. Relying on the systems and the institutional theories, we will critical espouse what lessons we have learnt, examine them and seek ways to reposition our electoral system in such a way that it deliver a free, fair, credible and transparent election that would reflect the will of the Nigerians. We will recommend that to secure a legitimate, free, fair and credible elections come 2027, what is needed is the amendment of the 1999 Constitution and the Electoral Act, 2022; the unbiased pursuit of attitudinal changes on the part of politicians, through cultural and systemic modification, and also by force of the law. We will insist that any amendments sought should mandate the full and complete implementation of the Justice Mohammed Uwais Report of 2007; demand that INEC be split, that the judiciary be

keywords:

Elections, free and fair, unbundling, Uwais Report, repositioning, transparent, and justice system.

---

Adamaagashi, Izuchulwu P. “The Impact of the Fight Against Corruption on Nigeria’s Economy:
A Case Study of the Economic and Financial crimes Commission” in International Journal
of Social Science and Management Research, E-ISSN 2545-5303 P-ISSN 2695-2203, vol.
9, No. 8. 2023. P.177.
Akoni, Olasunkanmi. 28th October, 2024. “SERAP Sues INEC Over Failure To Prosecute Electoral
Offenders” in Vanguard Newspaper, p. 10 accessed from https://www.vanguardngr.com
on 6th January, 2025 by 5.45pm.
Azeezat. 28th February, 2023. “She’s So Lucky” – Nigerian Woman Injured in Election Set To
Leave Country as Man makes Promises” in IntelRegion News.
Azu, John C. 31st, Wednesday, May, 2023. “Court Admits US Drug Judgment Against
Tinubu, Atiku’s Election Materials” in Daily Trust Newspaper.
Benedict, Ruth (2005). “Normality And The Good” in Ethics: Contemporary Readings, by
Gensler, H. J., Spurgin, Earl W, & Swindal, James C., (Eds.), Routledge, England, pp. 43
– 49.
Bobloco. 22nd November, 2024. “Wike’s Houses and judicial Autonomy” Vanguard Editorial in
Nairaland accessed from https://nairaland.com on 7th January, 2025 by 4.53pm.
Chatham
House
Publication:
31/03/2013.
“Trust
and
turnout
define 2023 elections
Despite the promise of technology and new legislation, Nigeria’s tightly contested elections
have resulted in growing mistrust and revealed deepening divides.”
Coleman, Jules L.; Himma, Kenneth Einar; and Shapiro, Scott J., (Editors), (2012-Online Pub).
The Oxford Handbook of Jurisprudence and Philosophy of Law (Oxford – Oxford
University Press).
Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), 1999.
Ejekwonyilo, Ameh. 15th June, 2023. “NBA Reacts To Ex-Senators Confession of Influencing
Wife’s Decision As appeal court Judge” in PremiumTimes Nigeria accessed from
www.premiumtimesng.com on 8th January, 2025.
Green, Mark; Mitchell, Derek & Twining, Daniel. 14th MARCH 14, 2023. “‘Nigeria’s Flawed
Election Risks a Democratic Backslide’ – The international community cannot afford to
give up on Nigeria’s vast democratic promise” in Foreign Policy Magazine.
Harris, Fred. (1980) America’s Democracy – The Ideal And The Reality. (Glenview, Illinois: Scott,
Foresman and Company).
Human Rights Watch. August 2011. Nigeria: Corruption on Trial? The Record of Nigeria’s
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. New York, Human Rights watch. ISBN: 1-
56432-800-7. Accessible from the web site address: http://www.hrw.org
Imhonopi, David & Ugochukwu, Moses Urim. 2013. “Leadership Crisis and Corruption In The
Nigerian Public Sector: An Abaltross Of National Development” in The African
Symposium, An Online Journal Of The African Research Network, Volume 13, No. 1, June
2013 – ISSN # 2326 – 8077.
Leadership Newspaper. “INEC CHAIRMAN SHOULDN’T BE APPOINTED BY PRESIDENT
– JEGA” Accessed from See www.leadership.ng on the 24TH June, 2024 11.25am.
Mahmood, Prof. Yakubu. INEC Chairman, 4th February, 2023, Abuja. See Premium Times, 23rd
Feb, 2024)
Mohammed, Mohammed Ndarani & Nyeenenwa, Stephen L. W. (2024). “Enhancing Judicial
Independence for Sustainable Democratic Governance in Nigeria: A Path towards Building
Public Confidence” in Alkebulan, A Journal of West and East African Studies Volume 4,
Issue 1. https://gnosipress.com.ng/index.php/alkebulan. ISSN (Online): 2971-6187.
Published 30 March 2024.
NAIRALAND NEWS. 20th June, 2023. “Presidential Poll: There Was No Technical Glitch” in
Nairaland News, accessed from https://www.nairaland.com on 6th January, 2025.
The 2014 National Conference. Committee on Political Parties & Electoral Matters. Final Report.
May 2014.” Members consisted of 1. Sen. Iyorchia Ayu -"Chairman, 2. Sen. Ken Nnamani,
GCON- Co-Chair, 3. H.E Olusegun Osaba, 4. H.E Achike Udenwa, 5. Dr. Georgiana
Ngeri-Nwagha, 6. Hon. Ignatius Kevin Edet, 7. Sen. Abdullahi Bala Adamu, 8. Hon. (Dr.)
Felix Akhabue, 9. Prof. N. Oluwafemi Mimiko, 11. Dr. Saleh Dauda, 12. Chief Chuku
Wachuku, 13. Chief Mrs. Anthonia F. Balogun, 14. Khalifa Hassan Yusuf, 15. Ezinwa
Okoroafor, 16. Barr. Musa Salihu, 17. Barr. (Chief) Sola Ebiseni, 18. M. Sani Zorro, 19.
Barr. Remi Olatubora, 20. Alani Akinrinade 21. Prof Kimse Okoko, Prof M. Nur Alkali,
Sen. Mohammed Kabir Jibril, Ishaq Modibo Kawu, Hon Sidi H. Alise, Mohammed
Ibrahim, Hon Anayo Nnebe, Barr. Festus Okoye, M. D. Hassan (Secretary).
News Wire Law And Events Newspaper. (July 26th 2019), Editorial, “Senate Under Fire Over ‘Bow
And Go’ Screening Policy” in News Wire Law And Events Newspaper accessed 27/07/2024
from the website – www.newswirelawanddevents.com.
Nnochiri, I. 29th September, 2011. “Corruption In Judiciary: CJN, NBA To The Rescue?”
Vanguard, 29th September, 2011 accessed from https://www.vanguardngr.com.
Nnochiri, Ikechukwu. 20th June, 2023. “Presidential Poll: There Was No Technical Glitch –
Amazon Tells Court” in Vanguard News accessed from https://www.vanguardngr.com on
6th January, 2025.
Nwoko, Kenneth & Nweke, Kenneth. December, 2021. “Post-Election Litigations and Judicial
Integrity in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic” in European Journal of Humanities and
Educational Advancements (EJHEA), Vol. 2 No. 12, December 2021 ISSN: 2660-5589
Available Online at: https://www.scholarzest.com.
Nyeenenwa, Stephen L. W. & Idoniboye, Omiete. “Nomenclature Change from NNPC (Public
Corporation) to NNPC Limited (Private Liability): An X-Ray and Dissection of the
Rebranded NNPC Ltd Using Rousseau’s General Will” in International Journal of Public
Administration and Management Research (IJPAMR), Vol. 8, No. 3, Nov.-Dec., 2022,
pages 66 – 91.
Ogungbesan, David Oyeniyi, (Esq). August, 2021. “Towards Achieving Quick Dispensation Of
Corruption Cases” – an opinion in Olarenwaju Suraju (Board Chairman, HEDA), A
Compendium of 100 High Profile Corruption Cases In Nigeria- 5th Edition. Published by
Human Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA) Resource Centre, supported by
MacArthur Foundation. Pp. 10 – 11.
Ojonugwa, Aina. 20th June, 2023. “Presidential Poll: No technical Glitch on 25th February, 2023 –
Amazon tells PEPC” in THEWILL News accessed from https://thewillnew.com on 6th
January, 2025.
Okeke, Collins. 2023. “Post – 2023: How To Improve Nigeria’s Electoral Process And Institutions
Using The Uwais Committee Report”, an OAL Publication.
Olatunji, Eniola. 25th February, 2023. Resilient Lady Votes After Suffering Election Violence”
Olokor, Friday. “INEC Failed, Should Apologise to Nigerians” in The Punch newspaper, 8th June,
Olokor, Friday. 08/06/2023. “The Independent National Electoral Commission Should Apologise
To Nigerians For Not Living Up To Expectations In The 2023 General Elections, A
Coalition Of Over 700 Human Rights Organisations Under The Aegis Of The Nigerian
Civil Society Situation Room Advised On Thursday” in The Punch Newspaper, 8th June,
2023, accessed from @ www.punch.com
Omeje; P. N, Ogbu & Mark O. 2019. “Effect of Budget Padding on Nigeria’s Economy: The Case
of 2016/2017 Budget” in IOSR Journal of Business and Management (IOSR-JBM), e-ISSN:
2278-487X, p-ISSN: 2319-7668. Volume 21, Issue 7. Ser. V (July. 2019), PP 01-09.
Omotola, J. Shola. (2010) ELECTORAL REFORM AND THE PROSPECTS OF DEMOCRATIC
CONSOLIDATION IN NIGERIA in Journal of Elections, Vol. 10, No. 1, pp. 187 – 207.
Onapajo, Hakeem and Uzodike, Ufo Okeke. (2012). “Rigging Through The Courts: The Judiciary
and Electoral Fraud in Nigeria” in Journal Of African Elections, Volume 13 No 2: pp. 137
– 168.
Onwuka, Azuka. 20th June, 2023. “When A Senator Boasts His Wife Influences Court Judgments”
in The Punch Newspaper accessed on 8th January, 2024 by 5.55pm from
www.punchngr.com.
Pedro, Lawal (SAN). August, 2021. “Justice Delayed Is Justice Denied” – an opinion in
Olarenwaju Suraju (Board Chairman, HEDA), A Compendium of 100 High Profile
Corrupti

DOWNLOAD PDF

---

Back