Roadmap For Citizens Memorandum On Electoral Reforms.
By Undie Emmanuel
The leadership of a joint Committee on Electoral matters a critical resources to serve as a roadmap for guiding lawmakers, and stakeholders held a crucial meeting at National Assembly,new library on October 31, 2024
The high point of the stakeholders gathering,was on the need and special attention on vision, strategic, and scope to prioritize immediate attention for amendment of election matters in response to realities of our current electoral system a needs for extensive consultation with citizens.
Recall that in November 2023 a town hall meeting was convened on electoral reforms and received a memorandum for citizens which has now been articulated in this document. Focused on three core pillars of electoral legal framework for the conduct of election of the federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 and the Electoral ACT 2022 and the INEC election guidelines.
Recommendations carefully divided two parts one of which is 21 .. offer for constitutional alterations aimed at strengthening the independence of INEC and improve the processes for electoral adjudication and refined key constitutional provisions to ensure fairness, transparency , and inclusivity in our electoral process,while part 2, presents sixteen (16) proposals for amending the Electoral ACT 2022, which appears to address the inadequacies, complexities, and ambiguities that have hindered the efficient application of the Act. and reposition the electoral legal framework against the backdrop of recent landmark judicial decisions that offer pathways for reform and to make the Act more reflective of our evolving electoral needs.
The press release noted 16 priority areas to Include INEC Independence, efficiency and professionalism,(2) Unbundling of INEC (3) Electoral Offences (4) Election adjudication, (5) Diaspora or out -of -Country voting (6) Special Seats (7) Political party reform (8) Constituency delimitation (9) Voters Accreditation (10) Voters register & Voters registration (11) Women,Youths and PWDs political participation (inclusivity) (12) Early voting(13)Candidate Selection (14) Electoral technology (15) Results management process, and +16) Media and elections.
The constitution alteration proposals are tailored towards achieving improved independence and professionalism of State Independent Electoral Commissions (,SIECs) projected to ensure credible election and inspire public trust in the electoral process.
This memorandum seeks a review of appointments and discipline the Hallmark media briefing & gathering at the National Assembly Library on 31th October 2024 was to set the team plate for strengthening the financial autonomy of SIECs and operational guidelines of Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) and redefining the power and functions of SEICs and unbundling the INEC. and the establishment of an Electoral Offence Commission, as well as limiting the exercise of the power of nolle prosequi by the Attorney General among others.
