INEC Advocates Electoral Framework Six Months before Polls

 

As part of the efforts to minimise hitches and irregularities in future elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has advocated for a clear and unambiguous constitution and electoral framework at least six months before elections.

The INEC Chairman, Professor Yakub Mahmood, said this on Wednesday at the 12th National Delegates Conference of the Forum of the State Independent Electoral Commission of Nigeria (FOSIECON) with the theme: ‘Local Government Elections in Nigeria: Lesson from the 2019 General Election’  held in Jos, Plateau State.

Mahmood explained that uncertainty relating to the constitutional and electoral framework that will govern the conduct of election creates uncertainty and undermines the confidence of the people in the elections, adding that a clear and unambiguous constitutional and legal framework is good for planning as well as aid early procurement of sensitive and non-sensitive materials.  

The INEC boss pointed out that party nomination processes have profound impact on the preparations and conduct of elections, noting that the refusal of political parties to abide by and respect the constitution of their parties, the electoral framework and the rules and regulations governing nomination processes and resort to litigation by aggrieved aspirants and candidates affect the conduct of elections.

“When nominations are hazy and issues go to the courts, court judgments, orders and pronouncements affect procurement, printing of ballot papers as well as result sheets. It is important to put in place a legal regime that allows for the disposal of all pre-elections matters at least 60 days before the elections.

“Removing names and logo of political parties and changing the names and parties of candidates up until the eve of election on account of court orders and pronouncements are very problematic and confusing, and put the electoral management body on edge with profound impact on the conduct of elections,” he said.

Represented by the INEC National Commissioner in charge of Information and Publicity, Festus Okoye, Mahmood added that the commission took a pioneering decision to introduce technology in 2015 elections with the use of the smart card reader to verify and authenticate votes, stating that the smart readers were upgraded to expand and enhance their functionalities for 2019 general election.

 He implored the state Independent Electoral Commissions to adopt the technology in the conduct of local government elections in order to enhance the integrity of the process and safe guard the will of the people, adding that the INEC will support any state Independent Electoral Commissions that signifies intention to deploy the SCR in the conduct of local government elections.

In his address, the National Chairman, Forum of the state Independent Electoral Commissions of Nigeria, Justice Igbozuruike Akomas (rtd), enjoined states to be consistently conscious of the fact that the election is a process not event, adding that the implication is that states must commence strategic planning early and must not take anything for granted until election is successfully held.