The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has proposed reforms to improve the country’s electoral system, following lessons learnt from the 2023 general election and subsequent off-cycle polls.
INEC also confirmed it will soon present its legislative proposals to the relevant committees in the Senate and House of Representatives.
Speaking at a meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners in Abuja on Thursday, INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, outlined the commission’s vision to address long-standing challenges and modernise election management.
“Having released our 524-page main report on the election, a copy of which is available on our website, we have consulted widely internally with our own officials and externally with all major stakeholders.
“With the conclusion of five major off-cycle governorship elections and nine out of 21 bye-elections since the 2023 General Election, this is the most appropriate time for us to commence the implementation of the recommendations arising from our review of the General Election.
“From the internal and external engagements, the Commission has identified 142 recommendations dealing with the general state of preparedness, voter management, voter education and public communication, political parties and candidate management, electoral operations and logistics management, election officials and personnel, partnership and collaboration, monitoring and supervision, election technology, voting and result management, election security, electoral offences, and the electoral legal framework,” the chairman said.
Of these, 86 necessitate administrative action by the Commission, 48 rely on coordination with stakeholders like security services and civil society organisations, and eight require legislative modifications by the National Assembly.
The INEC boss noted, “Out of the 142 recommendations, 86 require administrative action by the Commission. It is therefore pertinent that we engage first with our resident electoral commissioners because of your frontline role in the implementation of the recommendations.
“This is followed by 48 recommendations that require action by a variety of stakeholders, including security agencies, mobile network operators, statutory bodies, political parties, transport unions, civil society organisations, and the media.
“On the legal review, there are eight recommendations that require legislative action by the National Assembly. Very soon, the Commission will make a presentation to the Joint Committee of the Senate and House of Representatives on Electoral Matters as they continue to deliberate on electoral reform.”
Integral to the proposed reforms is a push for legal clarity on result transmission, specifically the roles of manual and electronic methods.
Yakubu stated that the implementation of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System emphasised the need for a more efficient approach.
The INEC boss proposed replacing permanent voter cards with computer-generated slips or digital credentials for voter accreditation, which would save expenses and eliminate voter card-buying scams.
The chairman added, “Among the major highlights of the Commission’s recommendations is the imperative of legal clarity in result management with regard to manual transfer versus the electronic transmission of results.
“The commission also believes that with the introduction of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, the use of the Permanent Voters’ Cards as the sole means of identification for voter accreditation on Election Day should be reviewed.
“Those who already have the PVCs can still use them to vote, but going forward, computer-generated slips issued to the voter or even downloaded from the Commission’s website will suffice for voter accreditation.
“This will not only save costs; it will also eliminate the issues around the collection of PVCs and the diabolical practice of buying up the cards from voters in order to disenfranchise them.”
The chairman also announced plans to implement early and diaspora voting to accommodate individuals who are unable to vote at their registered polling locations, like INEC officials, security officers, and Nigerians living abroad.
INEC is also campaigning for the unbundling of its functions, with plans to establish an electoral offences tribunal and a separate body to handle political party registration and regulations.
Other significant reforms include cleaning up the voter registration in coordination with the National Identity Management Commission and strengthening partnerships with transport unions to ensure election materials are delivered on time.
The commission also intends to ramp up voter education activities to counteract misinformation and encourage marginalised groups to participate more fully.
“There are also recommendations in support of diaspora voting, the unbundling of the Commission with the establishment of an electoral offences tribunal, and a separate agency to handle the registration and regulation of political parties.
“Similarly, the commission will step up action on voter access and distribution to polling units.
“As a matter of urgency, the Commission also intends to develop protocols for the cleaning up of the voters’ register in collaboration with other agencies such as the National Identity Management Commission and the National Population Commission.
“Other areas of reform include advocacy for affirmative action for greater participation of under-represented groups and more robust voter education and public communication to combat fake news and misinformation,” Yakubu stated.
The recommendations, recorded in a complete report, will shortly be available to the public in both hard and soft editions.
Yakubu asked the RECs to thoroughly review the findings and contribute to the creation of a more efficient and inclusive election system.
