Oshiomhole urges INEC chair to bar politicians’ spouses from sensitive roles

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 ensure that individuals with political affiliations — particularly spouses of politicians — are not assigned to sensitive positions within the commission.

Oshiomhole made the appeal during the Senate’s screening of the new INEC Chairman, stressing that political connections within the electoral body could compromise its neutrality and credibility.

Citing his personal experience in Edo State, Oshiomhole recalled a situation where the wife of a political party chairman served in a key role at INEC, which, according to him, posed a clear conflict of interest.

“One last point, an experience we had in Edo State — 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.

He alleged that the woman had claimed she could provide insider information to help her husband’s party during elections, highlighting the dangers of mixing partisan politics with electoral administration.

“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,” he added.

The senator urged the new INEC leadership to introduce clear policies and internal safeguards that would prevent such conflicts of interest in the future.

“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,” Oshiomhole stated.

He emphasized that protecting INEC’s independence and public trust is vital for credible elections and democratic stability in Nigeria.