Former chairman of Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, has called for an amendment of the Electoral Act, 2022.
He said although Nigeria’s electoral law is arguably the best in the country’s history, it is not perfect; and there was the need for further amendments to remove ambiguities, clarify and strengthen some of its sections.
He made the disclosure at a two-day retreat organised for senators by the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State.
The amendments, he said, should make the electronic transmission of results mandatory from the next general elections in 2027.
He also said the president should no longer have the power to appoint the chairman and National Commissioners of INEC to free the commission from partisanship.
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.
Many stakeholders 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.
But Jega said the section should be clarified by making electronic transmission of election results compulsory, including uploading of polling unit level results and result sheets used at different levels of result collation.
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 boss 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.
Cross-carpeting by elected officials, Jega said, should be proscribed 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.
