By Isaac Mission
Senator Victor Umeh, representing Anambra Central Senatorial District, has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to strengthen its permanent workforce and reduce its dependence on temporary personnel for future elections.
Umeh made the recommendation during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme on Friday, as preparations intensify for the 2027 general elections.
The senator, who is seeking re-election under the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), expressed concern over the practice of moving electoral officials between states, saying such arrangements could weaken public confidence in the credibility of elections.
He also alleged that political interests could sometimes influence the deployment of ad hoc personnel to particular locations during elections.
According to him, INEC should take advantage of its current recruitment exercise to employ and adequately train more permanent officials who can take responsibility for critical electoral duties.
Umeh argued that temporary election workers could leave after completing their assignments, whereas permanent commission staff would have a stronger sense of accountability because they remain within the electoral system.
He particularly called for INEC to develop sufficient in-house personnel capable of serving as collation and returning officers instead of routinely sourcing such officials from tertiary institutions.
The senator said keeping these responsibilities within INEC would make it easier to establish accountability whenever problems arise during the electoral process.
Umeh maintained that the commission had received substantial funding and should therefore have the capacity to expand its workforce and provide specialised training for permanent staff.
He also urged INEC to ensure that electoral personnel are deployed transparently and without political influence, stressing that public confidence remains essential to the success of the 2027 elections.
The senator’s proposal comes amid renewed discussions about electoral reforms and measures that could improve the credibility, transparency and efficiency of Nigeria’s electoral process ahead of the 2027 polls.