Legal practitioner, Frank Tietie, has criticised the role of the National Assembly in regulating Nigeria’s electoral process, describing it as a constitutional mistake that has created confusion within the country’s democratic system ahead of the 2027 elections.
Speaking during an analysis session, Tietie argued that the Nigerian Constitution clearly grants the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) the authority to organise elections, regulate political parties, and formulate guidelines for credible electoral processes.
According to him, those responsibilities were never intended to be controlled by the National Assembly this judgement has exposed one area where we have missed the point as a country,” he said.
Tietie maintained that INEC was constitutionally empowered to independently supervise elections and establish the rules governing political parties without interference from lawmakers.
“The constitution gave INEC the power to organise elections, to regulate political parties and make rules and regulations that guide political parties and ensure that elections are free, fair and credible,” he stated.
He argued that allowing the National Assembly to make laws regulating elections has complicated the electoral framework and blurred the separation of responsibilities between institutions the constitution didn’t delegate that power to the National Assembly,” Tietie added.
The lawyer’s remarks come amid growing debates over electoral reforms, judicial interpretations, and the role of institutions in shaping Nigeria’s democratic process ahead of the 2027 general elections.
