As the governorship elections in Edo and Ondo States draw near, civil society organizations, represented by the Electoral Forum, have issued a strong call to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to thoroughly address and rectify issues within the electoral processes. This move aims to prevent electoral outcomes from being determined by court rulings.
The forum recently held a technical session to analyze the implications of Supreme Court decisions regarding governorship elections in Imo, Kogi, and Bayelsa states. This analysis revealed significant concerns about the deterioration of electoral processes compared to established democratic standards. The session highlighted a growing urgency for reform to restore confidence in Nigeria’s electoral system.
In a detailed communiqué, signed by the forum’s chairman, Prof. Adebayo, the organization outlined its findings and recommendations. The communiqué stated, “Our examination of the current electoral system revealed several critical areas needing reform. We suggest considering a shift to a mixed electoral system and broadening the range of acceptable voter identification methods to enhance the integrity and inclusivity of elections.”
The forum’s comprehensive recommendations include several key points aimed at improving Nigeria’s electoral governance;
- Strengthening Local Elections: There is a call to enhance the effectiveness of State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs). This includes implementing transparent mechanisms for direct funding to Local Government Areas (LGAs), which would support better local governance and development. By ensuring that LGAs receive direct funding, the aim is to empower local bodies to manage elections more efficiently and independently.
- Enhancing the Independence of SIECs: The forum advocates for legislative reforms to increase the independence and operational capacity of SIECs. Standardized guidelines for their operations would help ensure that these commissions can carry out their duties without undue influence and with greater efficiency.
- Improving Collaboration Between INEC and SIECs: Establishing a formal framework for collaboration between INEC and SIECs is crucial for improving the quality of local elections. This partnership is intended to streamline processes and ensure that local elections meet high standards of transparency and fairness.
- Judicial Reforms: The forum also calls for reforms within the judicial system to address electoral disputes more effectively. This includes merit-based appointments to judicial positions and setting clear timelines for resolving electoral disputes. Such measures would enhance the efficiency and fairness of the judicial review process related to elections.
- Edo, Ondo Guber: CSO Urges INEC to Overhaul Electoral Processes, a significant recommendation to explore the adoption of a mixed electoral system. This system would combine elements of both majoritarian and proportional representation to improve the representativeness and inclusivity of the political process. The forum believes that a mixed system could lead to a more balanced and equitable representation of different political interests.
By addressing these issues, the Electoral Forum hopes to restore confidence in Nigeria’s electoral processes and ensure that the upcoming elections in Edo and Ondo States are conducted with the highest standards of integrity and fairness.
