In Nigeria, there is growing support for a movement that aims to strip the president of certain powers, especially those related to the country’s electoral commission and judiciary. This effort, led by a new coalition called the Save Democracy Mega Alliance 2027 (SDMA’27), is pushing for constitutional amendments that would reduce the president’s authority over the appointment of leaders in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the judiciary.
The main argument behind this campaign is that the president’s current power over these key institutions does not guarantee their independence. The group believes that by creating an independent body responsible for these appointments, Nigeria can reduce the influence of the executive on the electoral and judicial systems, leading to fairer elections and a stronger legal system.
This push for reform has received support from many Nigerians, including prominent political figures like Professor Pat Utomi, who sees the proposed changes as vital for improving Nigeria’s democracy. Utomi pointed to the Justice Uwais Electoral Reform report, which also recommended limiting executive influence over INEC and the judiciary to ensure fairness in elections.
SDMA’27 has a clear strategy: they want to unite Nigerians from all political, religious, and civil society groups to push for these changes. Their goal is to create enough momentum to hold a national conference and lobby lawmakers to support amendments that would stop the 2027 elections from facing the same challenges as past elections, like manipulation and lack of fairness.
However, there are differing opinions on the best way forward. Some, like Dr. Pogu Bitrus, president of the Middle Belt Forum, believe that the real issue is not who appoints the leaders of INEC or the judiciary, but who has the power to remove them. Bitrus argues that strengthening the institutions themselves is the key. If these institutions are strong and well-established, it won’t matter who appoints or fires the leaders—there will be checks and balances to prevent misuse of power.
On the other hand, Alhaji Yerima Shettima, president of the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, is skeptical about creating an independent body to oversee appointments. He believes that the system in Nigeria is too centralized, with too much power in the president’s hands, to allow for real independence. Shettima stresses the need to focus on decentralizing power and strengthening the institutions directly, like INEC, rather than focusing on who makes the appointments.
Another supporter of the campaign, Adebayo Fadipe from the Peoples Democratic Party, believes that removing presidential control over INEC could restore the integrity of elections in Nigeria. He argues that past INEC chairmen have often been influenced by the president, which has led to compromised elections. Fadipe believes that with true independence, INEC could work more fairly and transparently, making Nigeria’s elections more credible.
