Nigerian President Shouldn’t Be Appointing Chairman Of Electoral Body, INEC – Former Chair, Attahiru Jega Seeks Amendment

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A former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Attahiru Jega, has called for an amendment to the Electoral Act, 2022 to remove ambiguities, clarify and strengthen some of its sections.

 

Jega spoke at a two-day retreat organised for senators by the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State.

Some of the sections he want an amendments include the electronic transmission of results which he said must be made mandatory from the next general elections in 2027.

Jega who conducted the election that saw the enthronement of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2015, when the incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan lost to immediate past President Muhammadu Buhari, also wanted to see the president divested of the power to appoint the chairman and National Commissioners of INEC to free the commission from partisanship.

According to Daily Trust, he said the law should be reviewed to ensure that all cases arising from the conduct of elections are resolved and judgements made before the date of swearing-in.

Stakeholders at the workshop had expressed concern that section 64 of the Electoral Act, which states the process of transmission of election results, is susceptible to manipulation and misinterpretation as already seen in the last election.

Jega, however, stated that such ambiguity in that section should be clarified by making transmission of election results compulsory, including uploading of polling unit level results and result sheets used at different levels of result collation.

“INEC would have enough time to prepare for this, if the Act is amended early enough in the ensuing electoral cycle,” he said.

He also called for the introduction of either early voting for eligible voters on election duty, such as INEC staff, observers and their drivers, security personnel, and journalists or special arrangement to enable them vote on election day, especially for presidential elections.

The former INEC chairman further advocated for diaspora voting, at least for presidential elections, to enable citizens to vote, especially those on essential service abroad.

“There is need to enhance inclusion of women, if necessary by up to 35% of elective positions in parliament, and in all political parties’ candidate lists,” he added.

On cross-carpeting by elected officials, Jega called for its proscription, adding that it should not only for members of the National Assembly but also for elected executives, governors and chairmen of LGAs while INEC should be empowered to prepare for elections to fill the vacancy once it has evidence of the act of cross-carpeting.