The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) has opposed the move by the Hon. Nyesom Wike-led Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) to construct a new headquarters for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

CUPP’s National Secretary, Chief Peter Ameh, in a statement on Tuesday, argued that the move constitutes a direct assault on the commission’s constitutional independence.

Warning that INEC risks compromising its impartiality and eroding public trust in the electoral process, CUPP called on INEC to immediately halt the arrangement with the FCDA and leverage its direct line charge to independently fund and manage the construction of its headquarters.

It further called on the National Assembly to exercise its oversight powers in ensuring that INEC’s budget reflects its infrastructural and operational needs without reliance on external agencies.

CUPP asserted that the move contradicts the purpose of the direct line charge, which empowers INEC to independently budget for its operational and infrastructural needs through appropriations by the National Assembly.

Additionally, it enjoined the Prof. Mahmood Yakubu-led INEC to prioritize staff welfare to strengthen the integrity of the electoral system.

“The Nigerian people deserve an electoral body that upholds its constitutional mandate of independence and prioritizes the mechanisms that drive credible elections. Any attempt to undermine INEC’s autonomy threatens the foundation of our democracy. We must act swiftly to protect the integrity of our electoral process ahead of the 2027 elections,” it noted.

“The 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) explicitly safeguards INEC’s autonomy under Section 158(1), which insulates the commission from external control in its operations. Furthermore, Section 81(3) provides for a direct line charge to INEC’s budget, ensuring financial independence through funds drawn directly from the Consolidated Revenue Fund.

“This mechanism, reinforced by the Electoral Act 2022, was designed to eliminate INEC’s reliance on politically controlled entities, thereby curing the historical problem of undue influence over the election management body.

“The justification offered by INEC’s Chairman—that the FCDA’s role in building the commission’s initial headquarters when it relocated from Lagos validates its current involvement—is outdated and indefensible. Nigeria’s electoral laws have evolved significantly, and such arrangements are no longer acceptable for an institution tasked with conducting free, fair, and credible elections.

“The mere fact that FCDA was allowed to initiate and carry out the construction of the new headquarters speaks volumes—an agency under the Federal Capital Territory Administration and subject to political oversight by Nyesom Wike—to fund and construct its headquarters.

“Public sentiment, as expressed by so many citizens, echoes this concern, with Nigerians questioning the integrity of an electoral body that permits political actors to influence its operations.

“Equally concerning is INEC’s misplaced priority in focusing on a new headquarters while neglecting the welfare of its staff—the bureaucratic backbone of the commission. The employees who manage voter registration, election logistics, and result collation deserve competitive salaries, adequate training, and improved working conditions to enhance their efficiency and resist electoral malpractices.

“Diverting attention to a grandiose project at the expense of staff welfare undermines INEC’s mission to deliver credible elections for sustainable democracy in Nigeria.”