The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Tuesday said it would not release the timetable and schedule for activities for the 2023 general election until the Electoral Act Amendment Bill is signed into law.
Recall that President Muhammadu Buhari had withheld assent to the amendment bill in a letter to the National Assembly due to controversies in the direct primaries clause contained in the bill.
Speaking in Abuja during the Commission’s first quarterly consultative meeting with political parties, INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu said the early passage of the bill is critical in preparations for the 2023 election.
He also noted that all critical preparations for the poll must be concluded this year.
“On the Electoral Amendment Bill currently before the National Assembly, the Commission is encouraged by the Senate President’s assurance to give priority attention to the bill when the National Assembly reconvenes from its recess, and the commitment by the President to assent to the bill as soon as the issue of mode of primaries by political parties is resolved. We look forward to a speedy passage of the bill, which is crucial to our preparations for future elections.
“As soon as it is signed into law, the Commission will quickly release the timetable and schedule of activities for the 2023 general elections based on the new law.”
The INEC boss also announced that the Commission would be deploying the new electoral technology, Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), in the February 12 Federal Capital Territory (FCT) council election.
He, however, called on the National Assembly and the executive to quickly resolve the contentious issues and pass the Electoral Act Amendment Bill.
“We at IPAC are anticipating the emergence of an Electoral Act that will address among others, the lingering and fundamental issues relating to the legalisation of electronic accreditation of voters as well as the transmission of election results; issues relating to substitution of candidates in the event of death in an election; a redefinition of what amounts to over-voting; early release of election funds to INEC; early commencement of campaigns by political parties and, the period that political parties are legally allowed to commence campaigns in the countdown to elections.
“There is a need for a more robust deployment of logistics and greater performance in the distribution of vital election materials. Very importantly, IPAC is recommending improvement in the operational conditions of all the biometric gadgets to reinforce the growing confidence in their use as reliable technological devices for the enthronement of credible and transparent elections.
“We are not, however, unmindful of the manifestations of incidents of hitches experienced with its deployment in the Anambra election last year. IPAC is, therefore, calling on INEC to take measures to rectify observed lapses in Anambra.”
Meanwhile, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, has said the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill will be re-introduced in the house for reconsideration today.
