The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, has called for quick electoral reform to strengthen Nigeria’s democracy. Speaking at a retreat organised by the National Assembly’s Joint Committee on Electoral Matters in Lagos, he stressed the need to continue updating the electoral laws without delay.
Reflecting on the 2020 retreat that led to the Electoral Act 2022, Yakubu said,
“That effort, among many other initiatives, resulted in the repeal and re-enactment of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended). The result is the current Electoral Act 2022.”
He praised the reform for closing legal gaps, improving the use of technology, and implementing the suggestions from past electoral committees. According to Yakubu, the partnership between INEC and lawmakers, who are also politicians, has been vital for pushing meaningful electoral reform.
He explained, “For us in INEC, the coming together of lawmakers, who also have field experience as practising politicians, and the commission as the election management body saddled with the constitutional responsibility of organising, undertaking and supervising all elections in Nigeria (except the local government elections) is a positive development for electoral reform in Nigeria.”
INEC Highlights Achievements and Challenges
Yakubu noted that retreats like the one in Lagos allow for better discussions than regular committee meetings. He said,
“We believe that a retreat such as this one provides a focused engagement and a better insight into the challenges of election management beyond what can be achieved in a few hours of public hearing in a Committee Room at the National Assembly.”
One major highlight he mentioned was the amendment that extended the time between party primaries and general elections. Before the change, INEC had just 60 days after primaries to prepare, causing many delays.
Yakubu explained, “The solution was to amend the Electoral Act to provide for more time between party primaries and the nomination of candidates on the one hand and the dates fixed for the election on the other.”
With the new 180-day window, planning improved, and the 2023 general election was held without any postponements.
Yakubu also celebrated another first in the 2023 elections: all ballot papers and result sheets were printed inside Nigeria.
“Not a single sheet of paper for the 2023 General Election was printed outside Nigeria,” he declared.
The move was praised by the Chartered Institute of Professional Printers of Nigeria, and it helped build local capacity for future elections.
Urgent Need for New Electoral Reforms
Looking ahead, Yakubu urged the National Assembly to speed up efforts to pass new electoral reforms. He stressed that INEC needs time to properly implement any new laws.
“I wish to appeal to the National Assembly to expedite action to conclude the electoral legal framework speedily so that the commission will have enough time for implementation,” Yakubu said.
He thanked development partners for their support and again asked lawmakers to act quickly. A strong legal foundation, according to him, is crucial for improving elections and protecting democracy.
Yakubu ended by stressing that without swift electoral reform, Nigeria’s democracy cannot continue to grow stronger.
