
Legal practitioner and national development advocate, Jide Ologun, has urged the newly appointed Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman to prioritise integrity, accountability, and national service above political allegiance.
Speaking on ARISE News on Sunday, Ologun said the position offered the appointee a chance to write his name on the platform of legacy, stressing that leadership is about character, competence, and courage.
“If the new INEC chairman, who is still subject to Senate confirmation, assumes office, he must know he has been given an opportunity to register himself on the platform of legacy,” Ologun said. “He should ask himself — what will I be remembered for? Will I serve the people, or will I serve the one who appointed me?”
He defended President Bola Tinubu’s constitutional right to nominate the INEC chairman, but emphasised that the National Assembly must ensure accountability through oversight and reforms.
“Section 4 of the 1999 Constitution empowers the National Assembly to make laws for the peace, order, and good governance of Nigeria,” Ologun said. “The President has done what is right by consulting the Council of State, which is an advisory body under Section 153. But naturally, anyone given the power to appoint will choose someone they trust. That’s why the burden of accountability now lies with the legislature.”
Ologun also called for urgent electoral reforms to remove ambiguity in INEC’s discretionary powers.
“We must go beyond reforms on paper. Are those reforms mandatory or left to INEC’s discretion? Every election must be credible, transparent, and fair,” he noted. “If the structure is not righteous, whoever sits in that office will come under pressure to conform to manipulations.”
The legal practitioner highlighted the example of Professor Humphrey Nwosu, who supervised the 1993 “Hope ’93” election, as a model of integrity and courage.
“We must give kudos to Professor Humphrey Nwosu, who stood his ground on integrity even at the risk of his life,” Ologun said. “That election was annulled, but he left a legacy. That’s what leadership is — character, competence, and courage.”
Ologun further urged Nigerians to hold leaders accountable to the constitutional mandate that prioritises citizens’ welfare and security above all else.
“Section 14(2)(b) of the Constitution says the security and welfare of citizens shall be the primary purpose of government,” he stated. “We must ask ourselves — are we succeeding at that? These are questions the President must take seriously.”
He stressed that INEC’s credibility is critical to restoring public trust ahead of the 2027 elections.
“If we want to reposition Nigeria for greatness, the service must be to the nation and to God,” Ologun said. “It is time to build a structure that cannot be subverted — one that ensures every vote truly counts,” he concluded,
Boluwatife Enome