Electoral Reform: ‘Let power return to our people’ — Group on Senator Obiorah’s INEC Independence Bill
A faith-based and community development organisation based in Zaria, Kaduna State, Fityanatul Islam Gabari, has declared full support for the proposed bill by Senator Ikechukwu Obiorah seeking to establish a truly independent electoral body in Nigeria.
Speaking at a press briefing in Kaduna, the President of the organisation, Mallam Lawal, said the group’s position is driven by the conviction that political officeholders should no longer control the appointment of electoral officers, stressing that “power must return to the people.”
Lawal explained that after carefully reviewing Senator Obiorah’s draft bill, the group found it to be a bold and progressive step towards safeguarding the integrity of Nigeria’s elections and restoring public trust in the democratic process.
“On behalf of Fityanatul Islam Gabari, we formally express our endorsement and full support for Senator Ikechukwu Obiorah’s INEC Independence Bill. We believe credible elections are impossible when those contesting positions also appoint those who will conduct the elections,” he stated.
The proposed legislation, submitted by Senator Obiorah in July, seeks to amend the 1999 Constitution to restructure the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Under the plan, INEC would be composed of 13 commissioners: six elected by major professional and labour unions, six nominated by the United Nations (UN), and one observer commissioner from Transparency International.
According to Lawal, the model offers a transparent and accountable framework that would reduce political manipulation, strengthen the use of technology in elections, and enhance confidence in tools such as the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV).
He added that the inclusion of international organisations such as the UN in the process is not foreign interference but a recognition of their long-standing partnership with Nigeria in governance, democracy, and development initiatives.
“We must acknowledge that dishonest elections are the root cause of poverty, corruption, and underdevelopment. This reform will help Nigeria build a democracy anchored on fairness, accountability, and the will of the people,” Lawal emphasised.
The group also urged the National Assembly, State Houses of Assembly, and the Presidency to treat the bill with urgency, describing it as a “turning point in Nigeria’s political evolution.”