The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmood Yakubu, has called on the National Assembly to hasten the passage of proposed amendments to the country’s electoral legal framework.
He explained that the early passage of the proposed amendment is crucial for INEC’s effective planning ahead of the next general election.
Yakubu stated this on Thursday while speaking during a meeting with the European Union (EU) Election Observation Follow-up Mission to Nigeria, led by Barry Andrews.
He said, “Uncertainty over the legal framework for the election can unsettle the work of the commission as the election draws nearer.”
He noted that INEC had thoroughly reviewed all eight recommendations specifically directed to the commission in the European Union Election Observation Mission’s (EU EOM) report on the 2023 general election.
Yakubu recalled that in 2019, the EU EOM made 30 recommendations, 11 of which were addressed to INEC. Of those, three were classified as priority recommendations, while the remaining eight were considered general.
In comparison, he said the EU EOM 2023 report contained 23 recommendations, eight of which (34.8%) required action from INEC. Only one of these was designated as a priority recommendation.
“The remaining 15 recommendations (65.2%), including five listed as priority, require action from other stakeholders, including the executive, legislature, judiciary, political parties, and civil society.
“The commission has carefully considered all eight recommendations specifically addressed to us in your report,” Yakubu said.
“Action has already been taken on those aspects that require only administrative measures for implementation.
“Similarly, action is being taken on cross-cutting recommendations that require collective action between INEC and other bodies and stakeholders while waiting for the conclusion of the ongoing legal review by the National Assembly on the recommendations that require legislative intervention.”
Yakubu noted that the EU’s recommendations, alongside those from other national and international election observers, were part of extensive consultations with key institutions and stakeholders during INEC’s post-election review of the 2023 general election.
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