Yiaga Africa has recommended that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should take proactive steps to ensure full-scale deployment of technology in subsequent elections.
Its Director of Programs, Cynthia Mbamalu in a press statement signed by it Communication Officer, Moshood Isah said INEC should ensure effective training of polling officials especially on the use of new technological tools used for elections.
Cynthia who spoke following the just concluded Senatorial and State Constituencies’s bye-election, said INEC should hold security agencies to account for failing to protect INEC officials against thugs and polling agents involved in violence and disruption of the election.
The group review called on INEC to review its engagement with security agencies and other stakeholders.
According to her , INEC should continue to review its voting processes to allow voters to cast ballots without interference and intimidation.
She INEC should also develop better strategies in enforcing physical distancing and adherence to health guidelines during elections.
“Accelerate the consideration and passage of electoral amendment bills to confer legality on innovations such as electronic accreditation and electronic transmission of results. The passage of an Electoral Offences Commission bill is long overdue.
“Vote buying is a criminal act and an affront on the democratic rights of citizens to freely express their choice.
“The security agencies, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) should investigate reported incidents of vote buying and ensure appropriate sanctions for offenders.
She said the bye-elections which were conducted in 5,856 polling units spread across 34 Local Government Areas in 11 states were in line with the constitutional requirement to fill up any vacancy in the Legislative Houses.
She further said the bye-elections were also important as an assessment of the electoral process towards the electoral reform agenda and to also assess the performance of INEC post the Edo and Ondo off-cycle elections.
INEC on December 5, 2020 conducted bye-elections into Six Senatorial Districts (Bayelsa Central, Bayelsa West, Imo North, Plateau South, Cross-River North and Lagos East Senatorial District).
Bye-elections were conducted in nine state constituencies namely Kosofe II State Constituency in Lagos state, Nganzai and Bayo state constituencies in Borno, Bakori state constituency in Katsina state, Bakura state constituency in Zamfara, Isu Uzo state constituency in Enugu state, Ibaji state constituency in Kogi, Obudu state constituency in Cross Rivers state and Dass state constituency in Bauchi state.
