142 Electoral Reform Recommendations by INEC: Insights and Next Steps

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has proposed 142 key recommendations to improve Nigeria’s electoral process, addressing critical areas such as voter management, election security, and legal frameworks. This was disclosed by INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, during a consultative meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) in Abuja, marking the Commission’s final strategy session for 2024.

Focus Areas of the Recommendations

INEC’s recommendations span several vital domains:

Preparedness and Voter Management: Improving voter education, public communication, and logistics for smooth electoral operations.

Political Parties and Candidate Oversight: Strengthening the monitoring of candidates and political parties to ensure compliance with electoral guidelines.

Election Technology and Result Management: Enhancing the use of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and reviewing the role of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

Electoral Offences and Security: Ensuring stricter measures against electoral fraud and enhancing security during elections.

Implementation Strategy

Of the 142 recommendations:

86 require internal administrative actions by INEC.

48 involve collaboration with external stakeholders, such as security agencies, mobile network operators, transport unions, civil society organizations, and the media.

8 demand legislative reforms from the National Assembly, with INEC set to engage the Senate and House of Representatives Joint Committee on Electoral Matters to deliberate on these issues.

Key Highlights

1. Legal Clarity on Result Transmission: INEC emphasized the need for clear legal provisions to address the debate over manual versus electronic result transmission.

2. Reviewing PVC Usage: The Commission proposed allowing voters to use computer-generated slips or downloadable credentials for accreditation, reducing costs and curbing voter card manipulation.

3. Enhanced Collaboration: INEC acknowledged the pivotal role of RECs in implementing these changes and stressed the need for partnerships with diverse stakeholders.

Path to Electoral Reforms

These recommendations aim to address issues encountered during the 2023 General Elections while preparing for future polls. Prof. Yakubu highlighted that achieving meaningful reform requires a collective effort across all sectors of society, including government agencies, political entities, and civic organizations.

We hope this will assist in the commitment to overhauling the electoral process and  hope for a more transparent, efficient, and inclusive system, ensuring Nigeria’s democracy continues to grow stronger.