• Wants Independent Panel-led Selection Process For INEC Chair, REC
The Women’s Rights Advancement and Protection Alternative (WRAPA) and partner civil society organisations have called on the National Assembly to, through the ongoing review of the 1999 Constitution, enshrine a provision in the constitution that allows for one additional senator per state and the Federal Capital territory (FCT) exclusively for women, one additional House of Representatives seats per state exclusively for women and three additional state assembly seat per senatorial district for women.

WRAPA also demanded that a special constituency structure should be provided for women contesting these additional seats in its submission at the South West Zonal Public Hearing on the review of the 1999 constitution held in Lagos on Friday.

It stated that the reserved seats will take effect after the current national and state assemblies members complete their terms.

“The provision will last for 16 years, four general elections, after which it will be reviewed to determine if it should be retained, adjusted, or abolished,” the group said.

WRAPA called for the accelerated passage, state adoption, and presidential assent to the bill as a national development imperative.

WRAPA noted that while the passage of the additional/reserved seats for women in the national and state assemblies is its core demand, it also asked for reform in the appointment of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) leadership to strengthen electoral integrity and public confidence.

It stated that Sections 154(1) and 157 of the constitution vested appointment power in the Presidency for leadership of INEC, risking political interference and undermining public confidence.

It therefore proposed an independent panel-led selection process, drawing from Justice Uwais Committee (2008) recommendations and Kenya’s IEBC model, which will nominate three persons from which the president picks one person with Council of State’s advice and Senate confirmation.

It asked that the person to be appointed chairman of INEC should have a minimum of first degree with 12 years working experience of which five should be in public service/elections matters.

It added that the person should have integrity and strategic leadership as well as conflict management skills, while the person to be appointed national commissioner should have a first degree and at least 10 years working experience of which four should be in public service/elections.

They stated that both demands are vital to achieving inclusive, gender-responsive, and credible elections in Nigeria.