The Electoral Hub has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to assent to the Electoral Act Bill 2021 to ensure electoral credibility, inclusiveness, and a peaceful process during the 2023 general elections.
Director of the Hub, Princess Hamman-Obels, said the Bill contains provisions that enhance the credibility and quality of elections and address loopholes in the hitherto electoral legal framework.
The provisions in the Bill include a Concise definition of over-voting, Conferment of legal authority on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to review questionable election results, Direct primaries for all political parties, and Electronic transmission of election results.
Other provisions include Enhanced timelines for electoral activities and Legal backing for the use of technologies for voters’ accreditation.
The Hub explained that a timely assent would arm the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) with ample time to test run the provision and ensure effective electoral administration.
“The Electoral Hub, an organ of the Initiative for Research, Innovation and Advocacy in Development (IRIAD), is calling on President Muhammadu Buhari to encourage an environment that openly promotes electoral credibility, inclusiveness, and a peaceful process by immediately assenting to the Electoral Act Bill 2021.
“In addition, it is important to note that a timely assent to the Bill will positively facilitate an effective and efficient election administration. Timely assent will give INEC sufficient time to internalise and test-run the new provisions in the Bill in state-wide elections prior to the 2023 general elections. Timely assent of the Bill will also ensure that political parties and other electoral stakeholders plan, operationalise and implement efficiently electoral service delivery.
“It is also worth noting that one of the reasons the President declined assent to the Bill in 2018 was that it was too close to the 2019 general elections. With the 2023 general elections less than 445 days away, it is crucial not to delay assent to the Bill any longer.
“It is therefore imperative for President Buhari to assent to the Bill as a matter of urgency”.
