For an election to be fair and free Electoral Commission must be

Analyze the question: The question asks what condition an Electoral Commission must meet so that an election is free and fair.

Concept: A free and fair election depends on the electoral body being impartial, neutral and independent. If the executive, the legislature, the military or any political party can control or influence it, the process can be rigged in favour of those in power. In Nigeria, for example, INEC is meant to be independent of the executive, and this is why there are ongoing calls for its financial and administrative independence.

Step-by-step evaluation of the options:

• A. Ready to manipulate results: Manipulation is the opposite of fairness. This is wrong.
• B. Ready to reject criticisms: A credible commission should be transparent and accountable, and should accept constructive criticism. Rejecting it does not make an election fair. This is wrong.
• C. Headed by a minister in the executive: A minister is a member of the executive branch and is likely to favour the ruling party. That compromises neutrality, so this is wrong.
• D. Independent of other institutions of government: Independence allows the commission to act without pressure or interference, so it can conduct credible elections. This is correct.

Exam tip: In Government questions about electoral bodies, words like independent, impartial, neutral and transparent almost always point to the right answer. Options with manipulate, biased or controlled by the executive are usually distractors.