The chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has called for the expedition of the ongoing review of the electoral legal framework by the National Assembly.
He said this would ensure the timely implementation of reforms ahead of forthcoming elections.
The INEC chairman made the call in his opening remarks at a two-day retreat with the Joint Committee of the National Assembly on Electoral Matters, held at the Marriott Hotel, Lagos, on Monday.
Reflecting on past electoral reforms, Yakubu pointed out that a similar retreat had been held five years ago, in March 2020, which led to the repeal and re-enactment of the Electoral Act 2010, culminating in the current Electoral Act 2022.
He emphasised the importance of such retreats, noting that they offer a deeper and more focused engagement on electoral matters than conventional public hearings.
Yakubu said, “For us in INEC, the coming together of lawmakers, who also have field experience as practising politicians, and the Commission as the election management body, is a positive development for electoral reform in Nigeria.”
The INEC chairman highlighted the amendment that extended the period between party primaries and the general election to 180 days. This change, he said, addressed persistent logistical challenges that had previously led to election postponements.
“Under the 2010 Electoral Act (as amended), the Commission had just 60 days between the conclusion of party primaries and the conduct of the general election. This time constraint severely impacted our logistics, especially the production and delivery of sensitive materials such as ballot papers and result sheets,”; he explained.
Yakubu disclosed that INEC had initially requested a full year between primaries and elections but eventually accepted the 180-day provision agreed by lawmakers.
The adjustment, he affirmed, was pivotal to the successful and timely conduct of the 2023 general election, which, for the first time in three electoral cycles, was not postponed due to logistical challenges.
Additionally, the INEC chairman celebrated another milestone achieved during the 2023 elections: the complete localisation of ballot paper and result sheet production.
“For the first time since the restoration of democracy in 1999, not a single sheet of paper for the 2023 General Election was printed outside Nigeria.
“Everything was done within the country, earning the Commission commendation from the Chartered Institute of Professional Printers of Nigeria, CIPPON,”; Yakubu noted with pride.
Looking ahead, Prof. Yakubu stressed that the retreat would offer INEC the opportunity to share field experiences and highlight proposed reforms crucial to enhancing election management.
He urged lawmakers to fast-track the amendment process to allow sufficient time for implementation before the next general election cycle.
