INEC Urges Lawmakers to Expedite Legal Framework for Enhanced Electoral Process

INEC Urges Lawmakers to Expedite Legal Framework for Enhanced Electoral Process

JOEL OLADELE, Abuja

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has called on lawmakers to accelerate the establishment of a robust legal framework aimed at improving the electoral process in Nigeria.

Prof. Yakubu made the appeal on Monday, at a two-day retreat with the Joint Committee of the National Assembly on Electoral Matters held in Lagos.

Reflecting on a similar retreat conducted five years ago, Professor Yakubu noted, “Some of you here may recall that five years ago, a similar retreat was organized here in Lagos in March 2020 involving INEC and the two Committees of the National Assembly on Electoral Matters. That effort, among many other initiatives, resulted in the repeal and re-enactment of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended), leading to the current Electoral Act 2022.”

He emphasized the importance of collaboration between lawmakers and INEC, stating, ” the coming together of lawmakers, who also have field experience as practicing politicians, and the Commission as the election management body saddled with the constitutional responsibility of organizing, undertaking, and supervising all elections in Nigeria (except local government elections) is a positive development for electoral reform in Nigeria.”

He further asserted that such retreats provide a focused engagement that offers deeper insights into the challenges of election management, beyond what can be achieved in a traditional public hearing setting.

Professor Yakubu highlighted a critical amendment from the previous retreat that addressed the persistent issue of election postponements due to logistical challenges.

“As we are aware, a perennial problem in the conduct of elections in Nigeria has been the postponement of the dates fixed for General Elections on two occasions since 2011 as a result of logistics challenges associated with the production and delivery of sensitive materials,” he remarked.

He explained that the Commission’s determination to rectify this issue led to a thorough review, concluding that the real challenge lay in time management rather than technical capacity.

He elaborated on the necessity of amending the Electoral Act to allow for more time between party primaries and the nomination of candidates.

“The solution was to amend the Electoral Act to provide for more time between party primaries and the nomination of candidates on the one hand and the dates fixed for the election on the other,” Yakubu noted

Although the Commission initially requested a one-year extension, lawmakers ultimately agreed on a six-month period, which proved beneficial. “As a result of that decision, the Commission had ample time to plan, and consequently, for the first time in three electoral cycles, the 2023 General Election was not postponed on account of logistics associated with the printing and delivery of sensitive materials,” he said.

Professor Yakubu acknowledged the support of various development partners and appealed to the National Assembly to expedite the completion of the electoral legal framework.

“Finally, I wish to appeal to the National Assembly to expedite action to conclude the electoral legal framework speedily so that the Commission will have enough time for implementation,” he urged.