Bode George to FG: Reform INEC Appointment Process, Says Nigeria’s Elections in Shambles
…as GOCOP Holds 9th Annual Conference
Former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olabode George, has called for a transparent and holistic process in the appointment of the Chairman and other top officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
His remarks came just as the National Council of State unanimously approved the appointment of Professor Joash Amupitan as the new head of the nation’s electoral umpire.
Chief George, who spoke in Lagos at the 9th Annual Conference of the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP), held at GRA, Ikeja, described Nigeria’s electoral process as shambolic. He reminded the political class and the National Assembly that they would eventually return to the electorate after four years to renew their mandates.
According to him, there is an urgent need to revisit the method of selecting INEC officials since they play a decisive role in the conduct of elections, which forms the foundation of democracy.
Chief George also urged GOCOP members to guard against the spread of fake news, warning that misinformation could trigger unrest and threaten national stability.
The former Military Governor of old Ondo State reiterated his opposition to military intervention in politics, stressing that such incursions erode democratic structures, particularly the legislature which forms the backbone of democratic governance.
He acknowledged that no institution is perfect but reminded leaders that power is transient and they would one day give account of their stewardship, noting that “great empires of the past no longer exist.”
“The beauty of governance lies in putting smiles on the faces of the people,” he said, adding that public office demands readiness to face both criticism and commendation.
Chief George lamented that despite Nigeria’s vast natural endowments, the nation still struggles to achieve meaningful development.
Also speaking at the event, former Speaker of the House of Representatives and ex-Governor of Katsina State, Rt. Hon. Aminu Bello Masari, cautioned politicians to make realistic campaign promises and urged citizens to hold leaders accountable.
Masari emphasized that democracy should translate into improved welfare for the people, adding that campaign pledges must align with governance realities. He noted that while he had experienced both executive and legislative responsibilities, certain unforeseen challenges—such as the COVID-19 pandemic and security crises—often disrupt the fulfillment of campaign promises.
He further observed that weak institutions enable corruption and hinder policy implementation, commending GOCOP for its consistency in promoting Nigeria’s democratic values.
Outgoing GOCOP President, Maureen Chigbo, warned that the association would take decisive action against erring online practitioners who fail to uphold professional standards.
She noted that for the first time, GOCOP conducted a standard election to select its new executive council, a departure from previous years when decisions were made unanimously.
According to her, the association received 35 membership applications, out of which only eight were approved.
The new executive is led by Danlami Nmodu as President and Olumide Iyanda as Vice President. Eight new members were also inducted during the conference, themed “Reconciling Campaign Promises with Governance Realities: Challenges and Prospects.”
