Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) national chairman Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed outlines proposals to help the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) deliver free, fair, and credible elections in 2027. Speaking in Abuja to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), he argues that INEC must be strengthened to reduce undue political influence. Baba-Ahmed calls for reviewing the appointment process for INEC’s chairman, national commissioners, and resident electoral commissioners (RECs), saying current arrangements can leave the electoral body subject to executive control. He also advocates for budgetary independence for INEC, including allowing the commission to defend its budget independently before the National Assembly. In addition, he calls for tougher sanctions for politicians and other individuals involved in electoral malpractices and violence, saying that electoral offences persist because perpetrators are rarely punished. Baba-Ahmed warns that elections without credibility could further weaken Nigeria’s democracy and erode public confidence in democratic institutions. He links the proposed reforms to the PRP’s broader restructuring agenda, emphasizing institutional strengthening as central to the plan.