Former Edo State Governor and Senator representing Edo North, Adams Oshiomhole, has called on the newly appointed Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to prevent individuals with close political ties, particularly spouses of politicians, from occupying sensitive positions within the commission.
Oshiomhole made the appeal during the Senate screening of the new INEC Chairman, warning that such appointments create conflicts of interest capable of undermining the integrity of elections.
He cited a personal experience from Edo State as an example of how political interference can compromise electoral credibility.
“One last point, an experience we had in Edo State, because the Senate President said we should speak from our own experiences. The chairman of a political party; one that is dying now had his wife serving as a director or heading the ICT unit of INEC in the state,” Oshiomhole said.
According to him, allowing individuals with partisan connections to oversee crucial election processes opens the door to potential manipulation.
“The husband, being the PDP chairman at the time, had his wife boasting that she could supply information that would help them deal with accreditation issues,” Oshiomhole alleged.
He urged the incoming INEC leadership to establish clear policies that will prevent similar conflicts going forward.
“Will you be able, as you have assured us, to make a policy that says if you are a spouse of a politician, you cannot be given a sensitive appointment? We must avoid turning INEC into a family affair,” he added.
