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| Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, INEC chairman |
Yakubu said that the processes for the reform of electoral processes were already ongoing ahead of the 2023 elections in the country.
The INEC Chairman noted that the various recommendations, including that of the European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) in the 2019 polls, would form major inputs in the areas of reform.
Yakubu, who spoke at a meeting with the Chief Observer of the European Union Election Observation Mission, Maria Arena in Abuja pointed out that a report will be submitted to the newly inaugurated Ninth National Assembly at the end of its review of last general elections.
According to him “we shall study your recommendations and we shall engage with the leadership of the 9th National Assembly on areas that require legislation while implementing aspects of the reform within the powers of the Commission in full consultation with stakeholders.
“There is so much work to do but little time ahead of us. The EU has been part of Nigeria’s steady progress towards democratic consolidation since 1999.
The INEC chairman noted that the EU recommendation to his Commission that it should merge the accreditation and voting processes on election day, has been implemented as the electoral umpire experimented with it when it conducted governorship election in Bayelsa 2015.
He pointed out that the 30 observations and recommendations made available by the EU election observation mission in 2015 would among others, be instrumental to the improvement of Nigeria’s electoral processes, adding that this will include the consolidation of the country’s democratic system since 1999.
According to INEC chairman the recommendation by the EU that INEC would merge the accreditation and voting processes on election day, a system which was tested ran during the Bayelsa governorship election of December 2015 remains invaluable till date.