By Folorunso Alagbede, in Abuja
Ahead of the 2027 general election, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has appealed to the
National Assembly to expedite action in concluding the electoral legal framework speedily so that the Commission will have enough time for implementation.
The Chairman of INEC, Prof Mahmood Yakubu made the appeal at the opening of a 2-day retreat with the joint committee of the National Assembly on Electoral matters holding in Lagos.
INEC National Chairman, who was represented by his Special Adviser, Prof Mohammed Kuna, pointed out that a perennial problem in the conduct of elections in Nigeria has been the postponement of the dates fixed for General Elections.
He recalled that there had been such postponements on two occasions since 2011 as a result of logistics challenges associated with the production and delivery of sensitive materials (ballot papers and result sheets).
The present Commission, he declared, was determined to change the embarrassing narrative.
Prof Yakubu noted that under the 2010 Electoral Act (as amended), the Commission had just 60 days between the conclusion of party primaries and the conduct of the General election to know which political party was fielding candidates in each of the 1,491 seats made up of 1 presidential constituency, 28 governorship, 109 senatorial, 360 federal and 993 state constituencies. The information, according to him, was needed by INEC for the customization of the ballot papers and results sheets adding that the Voters’ Register, which is the basis for planning the procurement of sensitive materials, has been increasing with every election by an average of 10 million new voters from 2011 to the last election in 2023.
The solution, he pointed out, 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.
The INEC Chairman said, “After a thorough review, we came to the conclusion that the problem was not one of technical capacity. Nigerian printers have the capacity to meet our needs. The real challenge was time management.
“Under the 2010 Electoral Act (as amended), the Commission had just 60 days between the conclusion of party primaries and the conduct of the General election to know which political party was fielding candidates in each of the 1,491 seats made up of 1 presidential constituency, 28 governorship, 109 senatorial, 360 federal and 993 state constituencies. ‘We need the information for customization of the ballot papers and results sheets.
“Moreover, the Voters’ Register, which is the basis for planning the procurement of sensitive materials, has been increasing with every election by an average of 10 million new voters from 2011 to the last election in 2023.
“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.
‘The Commission initially asked for one year, which was not favourably considered by the lawmakers who eventually settled for the current 180 days (that is six months).
‘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.
“Equally significant is that for the first time since the restoration of democracy in 1999, not a single sheet of paper for the 2023 General Election was printed outside Nigeria.
“Everything was done within the country for which the Commission was commended by the Chartered Institute of Professional Printers of Nigeria (CIPPON).
‘”As we embark on yet another review of our electoral laws, we will share with the lawmakers our field experience and draw attention to some of the proposed reforms and their implications for the management of elections.
“This is what makes the retreat of this nature a unique opportunity to improve our electoral process, the foundation of which is rooted in the legal framework.
“I can’t conclude my opening remarks without appreciating our different development partners for their support. You have remained consistent in your support through the thick and thin of our electoral experience. We appreciate you for staying the course.
“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 said.
