The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said it would anchor the review of the Electoral Act on increasing citizens’ confidence by enhancing the transparency and credibility of the electoral process as well as entrenching internal democracy within political parties.
The review would also focus on ensuring inclusivity in the electoral process for marginalised segments of society such as women, youths and persons with living with disability and reducing the cost of elections.
INEC added that the review is to take into account curbing the incidence of violence and sundry malpractices in the
electoral process; ensuring that violators of electoral laws are effectively sanctioned; deepening the deployment of technology in elections; and increasing the autonomy and independence (both administrative and financial) of the Electoral Commission.
Mahmood Yakubu, INEC Chairman who gave this indications Monday at the retreat on the review of the Electoral Legal Framework in Lagos said this parameters were based on suggestions of Nigerians at different fora.
Yakubu recalled that late last year, the Commission received from the Senate Committee on INEC a modified version of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill which the National Assembly had presented to the executive for assent before the 2019 general election.
He said the revised Bill has amended several sections and subsections of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended), and in presenting the draft Bill to the Commission, the Senate Committee specifically requested for the Commission’s input into areas that will strengthen the proposed legislation.
The INEC Chairman noted that, in turn, the Commission shared the draft Bill internally with the National Commissioners and Directors at its Headquarters as well as the Resident Electoral Commissioners and senior officials in the 36 States of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) for comments.
According to Yakubu, these comments have now been compiled into a draft document that would be discussed at the retreat and validated as the Commission’s position on the electoral legal framework.
He explained that the Commission’s draft document has also taken the comments and suggestions by stakeholders into consideration, especially following the conclusion of the 2019 general election.
“You will recall that the Commission had organised a series of post-election review meetings ending with a retreat here in Lagos in July last year. Participants in the series of consultative meetings strongly canvassed for electoral reforms at the heart of which is the review of the electoral legal framework.
“For an enduring review, the Commission looked at the electoral legal framework comprehensively. The Commission reviewed existing provisions with regard to elections in both the Constitution and the Electoral Act, although for the purpose of this retreat the focus of attention is on the Electoral Act.
“The procedure for constitutional alterations are handled separately, including a different procedure for harnessing citizens’ input. Our draft is ready but requires further internal review ahead of submission to the National Assembly” Yakubu said.
“I am glad to know that members of the Senate Committee on INEC and House of Representatives Committee on Electoral Matters are joining us on Thursday and Friday for in-depth review of both their proposal and our input. This is the first time that the National Assembly and INEC are coming together on electoral reform. We look forward to this opportunity to serve Nigerians better”.
James Kwen, Abuja
