DAILY BULLETIN
VOLUME: 2 N0:343 DATE: DECEMBER 12, 2024
INEC CHARTS A BOLD COURSE FOR COMPREHENSIVE ELECTORAL REFORMS
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is embarking on a transformative journey to redefine Nigeria’s electoral system. The Commission has identified 142 recommendations aimed at enhancing the electoral process.
Developed through internal and external engagements, these recommendations address critical aspects of the electoral system, including voter management, voter education and public communication, political parties and candidate management, electoral operations and logistics, election officials and personnel, partnerships and collaboration, monitoring and supervision, election technology, voting and result management, election security, electoral offenses, and the legal framework.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, unveiled a comprehensive roadmap for electoral reforms during a consultative meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) held in Abuja on Thursday, December 12, 2024. This meeting, the last for the year, marked a significant step toward addressing challenges and lessons from the 2023 General Election.
Prof. Yakubu described the meeting as an opportunity to consolidate INEC’s achievements and chart a forward-looking path. Reflecting on an earlier consultative meeting in August 2024, which focused on the Edo and Ondo off-cycle governorship elections, he noted that Thursday’s agenda expanded to broader reforms grounded in INEC’s 524-page report on the 2023 General Election.
“Having concluded five major off-cycle governorship elections and nine of 21 bye-elections since the General Election, now is the most appropriate time to commence implementing the recommendations arising from our review,” Prof. Yakubu stated.
Key Recommendations for Electoral Reforms
Prof. Yakubu outlined actionable recommendations to strengthen Nigeria’s electoral system. These include:
Voter Management and Accreditation: INEC plans to expand the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) to accept computer-generated voter slips, downloadable from the Commission’s website. This innovation aims to streamline accreditation and reduce malpractices.
Electoral Technology and Result Transmission: The Commission seeks legal clarity on the use of manual versus electronic result transmission to enhance transparency and build public trust in election outcomes.
Special and Diaspora Voting: Proposals for early voting by election personnel, security agents, and essential workers are in development. Additionally, INEC is advocating for diaspora voting to enfranchise Nigerians living abroad.
Institutional Unbundling: Key recommendations include creating an electoral offences tribunal and establishing a separate agency to oversee the registration and regulation of political parties. This unbundling will enable INEC to focus solely on election management.
Prof. Yakubu further revealed that of the 142 recommendations, 86 require direct administrative action by INEC, 48 necessitate collaboration with stakeholders such as security agencies and civil society organizations, and eight demand legislative intervention. The Commission plans to present these proposals to the National Assembly’s Joint Committee on Electoral Matters for consideration.
The INEC Chairman emphasized improving election logistics through early deployment and strengthened partnerships with transport unions. He highlighted the recent successes in Ondo State as a testament to the efficacy of these measures. Additionally, efforts are underway to increase voter access to polling units and clean up of the voter register in collaboration with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) and the National Population Commission (NPC).
Prof. Yakubu also underscored the importance of robust voter education and public communication strategies to combat misinformation and disinformation. Furthermore, INEC is committed to affirmative action for women, youth, and persons with disabilities to promote inclusivity in the electoral process.
The high point of the meeting was the unveiling of the Commission’s comprehensive report on the 2023 General Election as well as the 2023 General Election Review Report. Prof. Yakubu, accompanied by National Commissioners, RECs, and other senior management staff presented hard copies of the reports.
He urged the RECs, who play a frontline role in implementing the recommendations to critically review the report as it forms the foundation for the proposed reforms. “This is a crucial step in refining our electoral process and ensuring the credibility of future elections,” he said.
Editor in Chief: Mrs. Victoria Eta-Messi
Editor: Esther Chibuikem
Reporter: Nathaniel Audu Gana