“Devise innovative strategies to tackle Nigeria’s electoral challenges”, INEC Chairman to RECs
Oru Leonard
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu has urged Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) to devise innovative strategies to tackle Nigeria’s electoral challenges and enhance service delivery.
He made the call in Lagos on Monday, 1st July 2024 at the opening of a two-day induction retreat organized for the new Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) in conjunction with the Development Alternatives Incorporated (DAI) and the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES).
Prof. Yakubu highlighted that the retreat was the fifth of its kind organized by the Commission in the past two years, it is focused on inaugurating ten (10) new Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) and the aims were to address the challenges associated with conducting elections and to propose innovative solutions to enhance the electoral process.
Addressing the challenges in the electoral process, Prof. Yakubu said, “As new RECs, we should focus on how we can acquaint ourselves more with the processes and procedures of the Commission. For the veterans, we should leverage our privileged field experience to contribute on how to mitigate recurring challenges in the areas of pre-election and post-election litigations, operational issues, especially in the area of logistics, an improvement on voter education processes, issues of strategic communication and combating fake news, misinformation and disinformation”
Prof. Yakubu also highlighted additional challenges in his words, “inclusivity in the electoral process, voter registration, allotting voters to polling units, the role of technology from pre-election activities to Election Day processes, political party issues mainly arising from leadership crisis and the management of party primaries, the recruitment and training of election duty officials, election security and our own code of conduct.”
Commenting on the huge task before the Commission, the INEC Chairman stressed “As I have said repeatedly on many occasions, the reality of the work we do in INEC is that there is no election season in Nigeria at all. Elections are held all year round in addition to numerous electoral activities such as voter registration.”
“Even today’s retreat is holding against the background of forthcoming governorship elections in Edo State in the next 81 days and Ondo State in the next 137 days. In addition, there are five pending bye-elections for Babura/ Garki Federal Constituency of Jigawa State and four State constituencies:- Khana II of Rivers State, Bagwai/ Shanono of Kano State, Zaria Kewaye of Kaduna State and Ganye of Adamawa State. These outstanding bye-elections bring the total of such elections to 14 since the inauguration of the national and state assemblies in June last year,” he added.
Commenting further on future elections, he said “Looking forward, there are four major elections before the next General Election in 2027. The Anambra State Governorship election next year will be followed in 2026 by the Ekiti and Osun State Governorship elections. I must remind you in case you forget, the Area Council elections in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
“Therefore, as we think, reflect and innovate for credible elections, we are also instantly implementing the reforms and innovations that we can introduce by administrative action. Since election is a process governed by law, we also plan to intensify our engagement with the National Assembly for activities that require legal reform.”
Prof. Yakubu maintained “In a well-organized retreat such as this one, there is always something new to learn. Upon reflection, there is also a new experience to share with colleagues. However, always bear in mind that the cardinal objective is improved service delivery”.
In his welcome remarks, Prof. Abayomi Salami, Hon. Resident Electoral Commissioner Lagos State (the host REC) reiterated that the purpose of the retreat is to acquaint or reinforce their understanding of INEC’s values and culture with the ultimate goal of enhancing electoral management processes.
He urged the RECs to take this retreat seriously to deliver credible and transparent elections, stressing that “the job of the RECs is majorly to oversee the work of the Commission’s activities at the states in accordance to INECs Guidelines and the Electoral Act”.
Prof. Salami enthused, ”I have great optimism that this retreat will inspire new ideas around ways that can make our electoral process & management more effective, I therefore share with you high enthusiasm that this will be a very productive retreat that will allow for meaningful exchange of ideas.
(INEC Media)
