By Perpetua Onuegbu
Abuja: A coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), has presented its Citizens Memorandum on Electoral Reforms to the National Assembly’s Joint Committee on Electoral Matters on improving Nigeria’s electoral legal framework.
This was contained in a statement signed by Samson Itodo, Executive Director YIAGA Africa on behalf of members of the coalition on Tuesday in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria ( NAN) reports that the coalition’s main focus is on elections, good governance and democratic participation for citizens and traditionally marginalised groups for credible, inclusive elections.
NAN also reports that the coalition, which are the implementing partners of the European Union’s Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN), had compiled the memorandum based on input from a Citizens’ Town Hall on Electoral Reforms.
According to Itodo, the memorandum is focused on three core pillars of the electoral legal framework for the conduct of elections.
These he said included the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, the Electoral Act 2022, and INEC Regulations and Guidelines for Elections.
“It contains 21 recommendations for constitutional amendments and 16 amendments for amending the Electoral Act.
“These recommendations cover all aspects of elections in Nigeria, including independence for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and its unbundling, electoral offences, diaspora voting and electoral technology,” Itodo said.
Presenting the memorandum to the committee, Dr Akin Akingbulu, the Executive Director of the Centre for Media and Society (CEMESO), said the coalition hoped that the memorandum would serve its purpose.
“We are optimistic that the memorandum will serve as a critical resource to serve as a roadmap for guiding lawmakers and all election stakeholders through priority areas in need of immediate attention.
“These amendments are strategic in their scope and ambitious in their vision, yet they are also rooted in practicality, responding to the realities of our current electoral system.
“We urge the National Assembly to strongly consider the proposals that we are presenting in this Citizens’ Memorandum on Electoral Reforms,” he said.
Another member of the coalition, Mr Lanre Arogundade, the Director of the International Press Centre (IPC), urged the National Assembly to carry out extensive consultations across the country to articulate citizens’ ideas for electoral reforms.
Arogundade said it was important that the National Assembly promptly concludes the process for the amendment of the legal framework for the conduct of the elections.
This he said would provide the opportunity to test the efficacy of the Act before the 2027 general elections.
The memorandum was received on behalf of the National Assembly by the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Electoral Matters, Hon. Adebayo Balogun.
Responding, Balogun appreciated the coalition for putting together the memorandum and assured them that the National Assembly would look into the proposals.
“One thing that this Assembly is committed to is ensuring that we deliver an improved electoral legal framework that will guarantee elections that Nigerians can all be proud of.
“This is critical to rebuilding trust in our electoral system. We will be looking at all possible ideas that can help us achieve this,” he said.
NAN reports that The EU-SDGN cohort is made up of the following members: Centre for Media and Society (CEMESO); Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA); Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC).
Others are DAI Nigeria; ElectHER; International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, International IDEA; Institute for Media and Society (IMS); International Press Centre (IPC).
Justice, Development and Peace Initiative (JDPI), Ado-Ekiti; Justice, Peace and Development Movement (JPDM), Oyo; Justice, Development and Peacemakers Centre (JDPMC) Osogbo.
There are also, The Kukah Centre; Nigerian Women’s Trust Fund (NWTF); the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC); SOS Children’s Village; TAF Africa and Yiaga Africa. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
