The Social Democratic Party has advocated for the independence of the Independent National Electoral Commission
The party opined that the independence of the nation’s electoral umpire would improve the credibility of the commission.
This was made known by the party’s National Chairman, Malam Shehu Gabam, while speaking with newsmen on Sunday in Abuja.
He noted that INEC’s performance was still being affected by the huge influence of the executive.
He said, “Let me tell you the honest truth. INEC is not independent. A lot of people do not understand it when I raise these issues.
“There is nothing INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu can do. He is completely handicapped in conducting elections.
“What he can do is to produce election materials, deliver them to every state and polling unit, deploy INEC or ad hoc staff to supervise the election’’ Gabam said.
He added that by law, the executive, under Mr President, was responsible for appointing INEC chairman, national commissioners and Resident Electoral Commissioners.
He applauded INEC’s conduct of the 2023 general election and the off-cycle election, particularly in the area of logistics delivery during the time.