PROFESSOR JEGA CALLS FOR THE UNBUNDLING OF INEC 28-11-23
By Sadiq Aminu The former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC, Professor Attahiru Jega, has called for the unbundling of the commission to make it more efficient.
Professor Jega made the call during a Citizens’ Town-hall on Electoral Reforms, organized by the Senate and House of Representatives joint committee on Electoral Matters.
He observed that INEC is saddled with too much responsibilities and that it is affecting the commission’s core responsibility.
The former INEC Chairman also recommended for a review of the appointment of the chairman, the national commissioners and the resident electoral commissioners.
“I think the conventional method in which the President nominates and when that happens, the candidate does not go through rigorous screening.
“We need a transparent process. We need to ensure there is full screening, and in particular we need to ensure that the legal provisions about non-partisanship, about the integrity of the people nominated are actually taken very seriously.
Jega also advocated for the proscription of cross-carpeting by politicians from one party to another.
This according to him would improve electoral integrity and deepened the nation’s democracy.
Other stakeholders at the event called for full implementation of the Justice Uwais report on electoral reforms, thirty five affirmative action on women as well as voter apathy.
The chairman house committee on electoral matters Mr Adebayon Balogun, explained that the event was organized to enable stakeholders contribute to the electoral reform exercise.
His counterpart at the Senate Senator Sharafadeen Ali, stated that the recommendations from the stakeholders would be considered during the reform exercise.