Group embarks on campaign to strip President’s powers over control of INEC, Judiciary

A newly formed coalition, Save Democracy Mega Alliance 2027 (SDMA’27), has embarked on a nationwide campaign to amend Nigeria’s Constitution to diminish executive influence over the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and state judicial bodies.

The coalition’s objective is to transfer appointment powers over INEC and State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs) from the President and state governors to a new independent body, aiming to bolster transparency and impartiality in Nigeria’s electoral and judicial systems.

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At a recent press briefing in Abuja, Comrade Tony Akeni Le Moin, the spokesperson for SDMA’27, outlined the coalition’s goals and announced plans for a formal launch in all 36 states. The campaign will culminate in a high-profile “boot camp” finale in the capital, with the goal of solidifying support and momentum.

According to Akeni Le Moin, SDMA’27’s primary focus will be on two key constitutional amendments: one to remove the president’s and governors’ authority to appoint heads of INEC, SIECs, and the judiciary, and another to delegate these appointments to a non-partisan body made up of Nigerians with proven integrity.

Prominent figures and pro-democracy advocates across Nigeria have endorsed SDMA’27, including Professor Pat Utomi, a political economist and advocate for good governance, who has expressed strong support for the coalition’s initiative.

Utomi praised the movement, calling it “a milestone for Nigerian democracy since the dawn of the Fourth Republic in 1999.” He also referenced the recommendations of the Justice Uwais Electoral Reform Committee, which previously advocated for similar restrictions on executive appointments to foster a more impartial and transparent electoral process.

The coalition’s three-point strategy includes mobilizing support from political, religious, and civil society networks nationwide to build a consensus on the need for constitutional reform. Advertisements The SDMA’27 coalition aims to organize a National Conference to formally propose the amendments, seeking the backing of both the National Assembly and State Assemblies to ensure the removal of executive control over INEC and the judiciary.

The coalition’s leaders warned of the risks facing Nigeria’s democracy if these reforms are not enacted, cautioning that the 2027 elections could face similar issues of manipulation as previous ones. Citing the words of civil rights leader Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., SDMA’27 called for a united “organized resistance” to what it described as a “national emergency” to safeguard democratic integrity in Nigeria.