The International Press Centre (IPC) and critical stakeholders in Kaduna State yesterday reflected on Nigeria’s electoral system and decried the lack of trust in the electoral processes.
The director, Centre for Democratic Development Research and Training, Zaria, Dr. Abubakar Saddique Mohammed during the multi-stakeholders dialogue noted with concern the need for creation of an electoral management body in order to ensure free, fair and credible elections in Nigeria.
He said “The weight on INEC as sole body in charge of election is too much, INEC alone cannot conduct free elections, there is need for creation of an electoral management body which includes; the bureaucracy, the judiciary, the CSOs, the media and others which must be included in the process”.
Mohammed lamented the high level of corruption in the judiciary, adding that even the court has been politicised.
He therefore warned that the patience of Nigerians should not be taken for granted.
In his presentation on ‘Rebuilding Trust in the Nigerian Electoral Process and Institutions: The Role of Stakeholders’,
Prof. Dung Pam Sha from the department of political science, University of Jos stressed the need for electoral reforms.
“The President should demonstrate commitment to electoral reform and also convene a presidential dialogue on elections. The National Assembly should eliminate all ambiguities in the 2022 Electoral Act; preelection matters and election petitions, results collation and electronic transmission of results under Section 64 of the Electoral Act 2022”.
Sha urged stakeholders to restore hope, confidence and trust in
the electoral process and institutions.
According to him, the constitution should be reviewed to grant local government councils development autonomy.
He further noted that there is a need for de-politicisation of the judiciary, weakening the political control over appointment of top leadership to handle tribunal cases, he said.
Earlier, the IPC executive director, Lanre Arogundade, said the essence of the dialogue was in response to some matters which arise from the conduct of 2023 general elections.
Arogundade who was represented by editor, Nigerian Democratic Report (NDR), Ayo-Aluko Olokun, noted that despite commendable landmarks in the use of BVAS machine, the 2023 elections had a lot of challenges which created doubt in the minds of the electorate.
He however said rebuilding the trust of Nigerians in the electoral processes is very important, adding that many have lost hope in the system.
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