A coalition of more than 33 civil society organisations has cautioned against treating allegations of politically or ethnically motivated staff redeployments at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as established facts without independent verification.
The Coalition of Civil Society Organisations Against Corruption (COCSOAC) made the call at a press conference in Abuja on Tuesday, amid preparations for the 2027 general elections.
The coalition said it had taken note of an online publication alleging that INEC carried out controversial redeployments involving senior officials from different parts of the country.
However, it said it had not independently established whether the reported changes occurred or whether they were motivated by political interference or ethnic considerations.
In a statement signed by its President, Bola Ademola, and National Secretary, Comrade Abdulfatah Aliyu, the coalition said allegations of wrongdoing should be assessed on the basis of verifiable evidence.
“We wish to clarify that we have not independently verified the reported changes or the alleged motives behind them. Consequently, claims of political interference or ethnic favouritism should not be treated as established facts,” the statement said.
COCSOAC argued that staff transfers, where properly authorised, are a normal administrative practice in public institutions and may be undertaken to improve efficiency, strengthen management or support professional development.
It said the critical questions were whether any redeployments complied with applicable rules, received the necessary authorisation and were based on legitimate administrative considerations.
“The relevant questions are whether the decisions complied with applicable rules, were properly authorised and were based on legitimate administrative considerations,” the coalition said.
The group urged INEC to provide clarification where necessary and called on the media, civil society organisations and the public to avoid drawing premature conclusions from unverified reports.
It maintained that its position was not intended to shield the electoral commission from scrutiny but to ensure that allegations against the institution were properly examined before being accepted as facts.
The coalition said transparency and accountability remained essential to public confidence in the electoral process, adding that allegations against public institutions should be supported by credible evidence.
It also congratulated INEC Secretary, Dr Rose Oriaran Anthony, on her recent turbaning and praised what it described as her experience and commitment to the commission.
COCSOAC appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to consider reappointing Anthony at the end of her tenure, if permitted by law and consistent with established appointment procedures.
The coalition said continuity in key administrative positions could help preserve institutional knowledge and support preparations for credible elections.
It stressed that the appeal was made in the national interest and was not a demand for an appointment outside the law.
The group called on stakeholders to promote responsible public discourse, respect due process and protect confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process as the country approaches the 2027 general elections.
