Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu
INEC proposes 142 recommendations for electoral reforms
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has recommended 142 items to enhance Nigeria’s electoral process.
The INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, stated this during a two-day induction retreat for Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) in Lagos.
Prof. Yakubu said INEC has published a comprehensive report after reviwing the 2023 elections, which is now available on its website.
He said the recommendations were derived from various retreats and stakeholder engagements.
According to him, ”The recommendations are categorized based on the implementation responsibilities, which include INEC, security agencies, the National Assembly, political parties, and other stakeholders, ensuring a thorough reform across all aspects of the electoral process.”
The INEC chairmsn, who stressed on the continuous nature of the commission’s operations, said since the inauguration of the national and state assemblies in 2023, the electoral body conducted nine by-elections and five more are scheduled before the 2027 general elections.
The chairman emphasized going by the staggered elections in the country, there is no longer an election season as INEC conducts elections year-round.
He also noted the impact of recent floods in Edo State, which affected over 4,000 Bimodal Voters Accreditation System (BVAS) machines.
However, he assured that INEC has recovered 3,500 of the machines and will seek additional support from neighbouring states to ensure adequate equipment for upcoming elections.
The retreat aimed to induct new RECs, review and reappraise electoral processes, discuss innovations, and engage with service providers.
It also served as an opportunity to interface with lawmakers on critical reform areas, reflecting INEC’s continuous effort to improve organizational capacity for better service delivery.
INEC is preparing for several major elections before 2027, including the governorship elections in Anambra, Ekiti, and Osun.
Prof. Yakubu urged the new and existing RECs to familiarize themselves with the commission’s processes and procedures, applying their field experience to address recurring challenges.
”This includes focusing on logistics, voter education, strategic communication, combating misinformation, and ensuring inclusivity in the electoral process,” he noted.
The INEC chairman further called on RECs to assist political parties with leadership crisis issues, management of party primaries, and oversee the recruitment and training of election duty officials.
He stressed the importance of election security and adherence to the code of conduct, aiming for improved service delivery and credible elections.
He expressed gratitude to Development Associates Inc. (DAI) and the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) for their continuous support in advancing Nigeria’s electoral process.
The retreat featured goodwill messages from DAI’s Mr. Rudolf Elbling and IFES Country Director, Seray Jah, reaffirming their commitment to transparent and inclusive elections.
The retreat, attended by RECs from all 36 states, directors, and other management staff, sought to enhance electoral management in Nigeria and inspire new ideas for a transparent, credible, and acceptable electoral process.
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