By Abdulwahab Abdulah
The Electoral Reform Network, ERN, has called for the unbundling of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, before the 2011 general elections, to guarantee free and fair polls.

The group, in a statement by its South-West coordinator, Mr. Sulaiman  Arigbabu, specifically called for the establishment of the Electoral Crimes Commission and the Political Parties Registration Commission. These, it contended, would enhance INEC’s performance and guarantee fair elections.

To guarantee the independence of the electoral commission, Arigbabu said the government must immediately embark on a process that would not tie the appointment, tenure and payment of the chairman, electoral commissioners and senior officials of the INEC to the ruling party.

It also called for the adoption of the modified open/secret ballot  voting system and 35 per cent  affirmative action for women.

Principally, it advocated early conduct of elections, at least six months before the  inauguration of a new government to allow election petitions to be determined.

The body noted that “reposing the appointment of INEC senior officials with the President and the Senate instead of the National Judicial Council, NJC, as popularly demanded by Nigerians is a circumvention of the interests of the people.”

The group therefore called on President Goodluck Jonathan to immediately step into action by taking decisions that would demonstrate that he meant well for the political advancement of the country.