President Bola Tinubu faces court action over the appointment of Resident Electoral Commissioners for INEC by groups including SERAP, BudgIT, and concerned Nigerians.
They filed a lawsuit at the Federal High Court in Lagos, challenging the appointment of alleged APC members as RECs, citing unconstitutionality and threats to INEC’s independence.
The lawsuit argues that INEC’s impartiality is crucial for the integrity of Nigeria’s elections and citizens’ democratic rights.
It challenges Tinubu and the Senate’s responsibility to ensure the independence and impartiality of top INEC officials in nomination and confirmation.
The suit stresses the importance of upholding constitutional and international standards for INEC’s autonomy and adherence to the rule of law.
The Plaintiffs seek an order setting aside the nomination, confirmation, and appointment of the alleged APC members as RECs for being unconstitutional, unlawful, null, void, and of no effect.
They argue that treating INEC as a line department accountable to bureaucratic higher-ups and high-ranking politicians undermines constitutional and international standards and the notion of the rule of law.
