The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), proposed an array of reforms aimed at improving the nation’s electoral process.
These reforms come in the wake of lessons learned from the 2023 general elections and subsequent off-cycle polls.
The commission announced plans to submit legislative recommendations to the relevant committees in the Senate and House of Representatives.
During a meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) in Abuja on Thursday, INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, outlined the commission’s vision for addressing longstanding challenges and modernizing election management.
“Having released our 524-page report on the 2023 elections, we have conducted extensive consultations both internally and externally with key stakeholders,” Yakubu stated.
“This is the most appropriate time to begin implementing recommendations from our election review,” Mahmood said.
The comprehensive report identified 142 actionable recommendations covering areas such as voter management, public communication, election logistics, and security.
Eight of these proposals require legislative amendments, 48 involve collaboration with stakeholders like security agencies and civil society groups, while 86 can be addressed through administrative measures by INEC.
Central to the reforms is the need for legal clarity on result transmission methods, particularly the roles of manual and electronic systems.
The introduction of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) has underscored the importance of streamlining these processes.
Yakubu highlighted the potential to replace Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) with computer-generated slips or downloadable credentials to reduce costs and curb voter card-buying practices.
“Those with PVCs can still use them to vote, but moving forward, computer-generated slips issued by the Commission or downloaded online will suffice,” Yakubu said.
“This approach not only saves costs but also eliminates issues surrounding PVC collection and manipulation,” he continued.
The commission also aims to introduce early and diaspora voting to accommodate Nigerians who are unable to vote at their registered polling units, including INEC staff, security personnel, and those living abroad.
Additionally, there are proposals to unbundle INEC’s responsibilities, including establishing an electoral offences tribunal and a separate agency for political party registration and regulation.
Further reforms include collaborating with the National Identity Management Commission and the National Population Commission to clean up the voters register, enhancing partnerships with transport unions for efficient logistics, and intensifying voter education campaigns to combat misinformation and encourage participation by marginalized groups.
Yakubu expressed INEC’s commitment to these initiatives, emphasizing their importance in fostering an inclusive and transparent electoral system.
“These recommendations are crucial for improving voter access, ensuring fair elections, and addressing systemic challenges.
We call on all stakeholders to support these initiatives,” he said.
The recommendations, documented in a detailed report, will soon be made available to the public.
Yakubu urged the RECs to engage deeply with the report and contribute to implementing these transformative reforms.
