EMSC has become a vital tool in the management of our electoral plans and activities- Prof Yakubu

Oru Leonard

The Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Professor Mahmood Yakubu has said the  Election Monitoring and Support Centers (EMSC), has become a vital tool in the management of our electoral plans and activities.

Yakubu made these remarks during the retreat on the optimization of the Election Monitoring and Support Centre, (EMSC) operational structure held on Friday at the Keffi- Nasarawa state in Nigeria.

He noted that as a result of its effectiveness and efficiency, many countries have had to visit the commission to understudy how it works then put measures in place in adopting it as a method in their own country for better electoral fortune. He said the process may just be another way for the commission and Nigeria in contributing their quota to electoral management in the world.

“The EMSC has greatly helped the Commission in managing the electoral process. As a testimony to its robustness as an election management tool, many countries in the West African Region and beyond have shown interest in studying and adopting the system for their use. The Ethiopian and Malawi Electoral Commissions are already considering the deployment of some aspects of the tool in the management of their elections. The EMSC may well be another contribution of INEC (and indeed Nigeria) to election management in the world.

“As pioneers, we need to keep pushing the frontiers of this system, fortifying its strengths, addressing its challenges, and expanding its reach in the conduct and management of elections. Having deployed it for the 2019 General Election, the Commission has certainly seen its advantages as well as its challenges. The advantages need to be strengthened and improved upon while resolving the anticipated challenges before the 2023 General Election which is just 560 days away”, he stated.

The INEC Boss recalled that when the Commission was first inaugurated in November 2015, our resolve was to consolidate on the gains of the last Commission (2010-2015) in building systems for the continuous and effective management of the electoral process, the goals were not only to address the challenges encountered during the 2011 and 2015 General Elections, but to also develop proactive and knowledge-driven systems that would address these challenges in 2019 and at the same time continue to support the Commission’s efforts in the planning, conduct and management of elections.

”In the build-up to the 2019 General Election, it became increasingly clear to the Commission that a coordinated early warning, monitoring, and implementation system was necessary to track hundreds of inter-related electoral activities in the Election Project Plan for the 2019 General Election. Accordingly, the Commission accepted the recommendations of the 2019 Election Project Plan Committee (EPPC) to integrate the three monitoring mechanisms of the Commission – the EMS, ERM, and EOSC – into a single unit called the Election Monitoring and Support Centre (EMSC).

“The continuous search for innovative and better systems for the management of our electoral process crystalized into the 2017-2021 Strategic Plan (SP)/Strategic Programme of Action (SPA), the 2019 Election Project Plan (EPP) as well as the Election Monitoring and Support Centre (EMSC). Consequently, the Commission has, over the years, continuously expanded the frontiers of electoral management and governance by introducing innovations and knowledge-driven systems. The EMSC is one such innovation” he explained.

Prof Yakubu who urged staff of the INEC to continue to work as a team and possibly suggest ways on how to keep improving on the EMSCs as a way to make the process easier for everyone,  however thanked the European Commission for their support adding that the retreat is crucial to the EMSC and the Commission.

“I am glad that this retreat is taking place six weeks after the commencement of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise. Over the last five weeks, eligible citizens have been allowed online and then complete it physically at designated centers. At the same time, those who prefer the in-person option can register at any of our State or Local Government offices nationwide. The two processes are going ahead simultaneously. We are glad that INEC is the first Election Management Body (EMB) to introduce online voter registration in Africa.

“The benefits are already encouraging. Citizens are served promptly and seamlessly without congestion at the registration centers and in full compliance with COVID-19 protocols. I wish to assure Nigerians that we will continue to innovate for the transparency and credibility of our elections. We will continue to work hard to ensure that citizens have a pleasant experience at every stage of the process”, he stated.

He commened the Directorate of Planning and Monitoring and other staff of the Commission for their efforts in making this retreat a reality.

“Let me also appreciate the European Centre for Electoral Support (ECES), for the consistent partnership with the Commission, including the organization of this retreat. We are looking forward to such positive collaboration that would enhance our preparation and planning for the 2023 General Election. We are looking forward to such positive collaboration that would enhance our preparation and planning for the 2023 General Election”, the INEC Chairman concluded.