The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has today revealed that following the proposed reform of the electoral Act, 2019 poll may mark the last Nigerian manual election process. Prof. Mahmood Yakub, National Chairman of INEC stated this, stressing that with the right political will of the National Assembly; the task is achievable, urging the lawmakers to accelerate action on the process. The INEC boss was speaking during a two days retreat opening in company of the National Assembly Committee on electoral matters held in Lagos.
Declaring the retreat open by, Senator Ovie Omo Agege, the Deputy Senate President together with members of the Senate and House of Reps committee on Electoral matters were all in attendance.
The chairman revealed that part of the proposed reform in the electoral system was to deepen the deployment of technology in the electoral processes in addition to the use of the electronic voter register and accreditation process. He further explained, it was time for the lawmakers to expunge obstacles that have been hampering on the electoral process when the deployment of technology was anything to go by, especially in the accreditation of voters and transmission of the election result.
The chairman said, “Sections 49 and 67 of the draft Bill deal with these twin issues. Therefore, these sections will be thoroughly discussed at this retreat. Working with the National Assembly, it is our hope that the 2019 general election will be the last mainly manual election in Nigeria.” He stated. In preparation for the next general election, the Electoral Amendment Act has become critical that the reform requires urgent attention, Agege stated.
In his statement; “Where the passage of the Bill is delayed, it will affect the formulation of regulations and guidelines as well as the review and publication of the manual necessary for the training of ad-hoc staff for elections because both documents draw from the legal framework.”
The Deputy Senate President commended the 9th Assembly for their commitment to electoral reform, saying the lawmakers recognise that despite party difference, it is in the best interest of all Nigerians to see that electoral law reflect the interest of all and sundry in strengthening democracy for our collective effort.
In his remark, Kabiru Gaya, the chairman Senate Committee on Electoral Matters revealed the reason behind the reform was to reduce election litigation and candidate selection process to its barest minimum; this at the end of the day will give Nigerians the required result.
In her contribution, the Chairman House Committee on Electoral Matters, Aisha Jibrin Dukku noted that though there was an improvement in the last election more is needed to be done to address the glaring irregularities which set politicians at each other’s neck after every round of the election.
