By Our Correspondent

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, HURIWA, has warned the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, against allowing political interests to infiltrate the recruitment, screening and deployment of personnel for the 2027 general elections.

In a statement by national coordiator, Comrade Emmanuel Nnadozie Onwubiko, HURIWA says INEC must begin the process of protecting the credibility of the 2027 elections by ensuring that every person entrusted with any responsibility in the conduct of the polls is properly screened and confirmed to be a person of proven integrity.

The rights advocacy group says the commission must not compromise the electoral process by appointing or deploying people with demonstrable political connections to state governors, federal legislators, presidential candidates, political parties or other powerful political actors.

HURIWA particularly warns INEC against relying on recommendations from politicians in the recruitment of ad-hoc election personnel.

The association says allowing governors, legislators or other political office holders to determine who gets deployed as ad-hoc staff in their respective constituencies could create a serious conflict of interest and raise legitimate questions about the neutrality of the electoral process.

HURIWA says an election official cannot effectively serve as an impartial referee if his or her appointment is perceived to have been secured through the influence of a politician who has a direct interest in the outcome of the election.

The group therefore urges Professor Joash Amupitan, the INEC Chairman, and the National Commissioners to establish and enforce a transparent recruitment and screening mechanism that will keep politically exposed persons away from sensitive election duties.

HURIWA says INEC must verify the background, professional conduct, political exposure and integrity of personnel before deploying them to polling units, collation centres and other sensitive locations.

The association insists that political neutrality must be treated as a fundamental qualification for anyone who will participate in the administration of the elections.

HURIWA says the 2027 general elections will be exceptionally important because their outcome will determine not only who occupies political offices but also the confidence Nigerians have in constitutional democracy.

The rights group warns that a badly managed election could deepen political tensions, increase public distrust in democratic institutions and create consequences that may extend far beyond the immediate electoral cycle.

HURIWA therefore calls on INEC to resist every form of political pressure, inducement and interference that could undermine its independence.

The organisation says the commission must not allow powerful individuals or political parties to turn the electoral bureaucracy into an extension of their campaign structures.

HURIWA says Nigerians are already demanding stronger safeguards against vote buying, manipulation of election technology, intimidation of voters, interference with electoral officials and the abuse of state institutions for partisan purposes.

The association insists that the integrity of election personnel is just as important as the integrity of the voting and result management systems.

HURIWA says even the most sophisticated electoral technology cannot guarantee a credible election if the human beings operating the system are politically compromised.

The group therefore urges INEC to pay particular attention to the human element of election administration and ensure that every official understands that his or her loyalty is to the Constitution and the Nigerian people, rather than to any politician or political party.

HURIWA further urges INEC to publish clear criteria for the recruitment and deployment of ad-hoc personnel and provide Nigerians with an effective mechanism for raising objections where a proposed election official has a known partisan history or relationship with a candidate.

The association says such transparency will strengthen public confidence and reduce suspicions that election personnel are being deliberately selected to favour particular candidates.

HURIWA also calls on political parties, civil society organisations, professional bodies, religious organisations and the media to monitor the recruitment and deployment process and expose any attempt to compromise it.

The group says the responsibility for protecting the 2027 elections cannot be left to INEC alone, stressing that every stakeholder must defend the democratic process.

HURIWA warns that the commission must not wait until after the elections before addressing allegations of political interference.

The association says preventive measures are more important than post election explanations because once public confidence in an election is destroyed, it becomes extremely difficult to restore.

HURIWA says Professor Amupitan and the National Commissioners now have a historic responsibility to demonstrate that INEC can conduct elections without fear, favour or political manipulation.

The group urges the commission to place integrity above convenience, competence above political recommendation and national interest above partisan pressure.
HURIWA says the 2027 elections are too important to be handed over to political networks.

The association warns that no governor, legislator, presidential candidate or political party should be allowed to determine who will serve as an election official in a manner that compromises the neutrality of the process.

HURIWA insists that INEC must recruit people whose integrity can withstand political pressure and whose conduct will not create suspicion that they are working for particular candidates.
The group says transparency, neutrality, independence and accountability must remain the foundation of the 2027 elections.

HURIWA urges Professor Joash Amupitan and the National Commissioners to resist every attempt by political actors to capture the electoral process through the recruitment or deployment of their preferred personnel.

The association says the credibility of the 2027 elections will not be measured only by the technology deployed by INEC. It will also be measured by the integrity of the men and women who operate the electoral system.

HURIWA therefore calls on INEC to act early, screen thoroughly, deploy transparently and maintain absolute neutrality.

The group says the 2027 election must be an election of Nigerians, conducted by credible officials and decided by the free will of the Nigerian people.