After 2019 election experience, INEC harps on need for electoral reforms

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said the constitution and Electoral Act must be realigned to meet the expectations of citizens of the country.

It also said it will look into employing both electronic and manual collation in transmission of results in order to prevent noticeable lapses.

INEC National Commissioner, Information and Voter Education, Festus Okoye, stated this on Wednesday in Enugu when the commission presented Certificates of Return to elected members of state assembly, governor and deputy governor-elect in the March 9 elections.

Okoye nonetheless blamed the behaviour of a section of the political class as posing a greater challenge to the integrity of the nation’s electoral process.

His position came following experiences from the recently concluded general elections.

“While the commission acknowledges the need for constitutional and electoral renewal, the greater challenge lies in the bad behavior of a section of the political class.

“It is very clear that some of the provisions in the Constitution and Electoral Act must be realigned to meet the expectations of our people.

“The commission will take a second look at the timeline for the disposal of pre-election matters and propose an amendment to the National Assembly,” Okoye said.

According to him, INEC would prefer an amendment that can lead to the disposal of all pre-election matters at least 45 days to holding of elections.

Adding that the commission would ensure steps that would prevent political thugs from storming collation centres in search of results are taking, Okoye challenged beneficiaries of the certificates to live up to the expectations of their people.

He said, “The validity of the certificates rests with the people of the state. It is within their constitutional mandate to renew, withdraw and or elevate it.”

Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, Mr Emeka Ononammadu, who spoke earlier, assuree that the state INEC office would be fair to all parties during post-election activities.

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He expressed joy that the electoral process in the state ended in peace with all the promises of fairness, openness and neutrality kept.

“It was a tortuous journey that did not come at zero cost but it is also a journey that the entire nation is poised to learn from Enugu,” Ononammadu said.

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