Our election plans for 2019, by INEC, AGF, IGP, Reps

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Mahmood Yakubu, the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) Abubakar Malami (SAN), the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ibrahim Idris and Chair, House of Representatives Committee on Electoral Matters, Mrs. Aisha Dukku Tuesday laid out their agencies plans for the 2019 general elections.

Yakubu assured that INEC was putting in place all the necessary measures to ensure a successful outing.

Idris said since Nigerians have hailed the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) for a good job during the last Anambra governorship election, it was working to improve on that in 2019.

Malami said the Executive, having identified areas needing reform in the electoral process, was working with the Legislature to ensure that the necessary legislation were in place.

Mrs. Dukku disclosed that the House of Representatives was currently working on 12 Bills intended to strengthen the electoral system. She assured that the Bills would be passed into law, and hopefully, assented to by the President before the next general elections.

Yakubu, Idris, Malami and Mrs. Dukku spoke in Abuja at a National Stakeholders Forum on Elections, put together by a coalition of civil society organisations (CSOs), under the aegis of the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room, led by Clement Nwankwo.

Yakubu, who was represented by an INEC’s National Commissioner, Adekunle Ogunmola, gave details of the commissions preparations so far and all that were being done to ensure an improved performance at the next general elections.

Some of such measures, he said, included the early release of the time for the next presidential election and the registration of 21 new political parties.

Yakubu said INEC intends to register more parties as long as they meet the legal requirements.

He said the commission was currently in receipt of about 80 applications from associations seeking registration as political parties.

Yakubu said: “We will continue to register parties as long as they comply with the legal requirements. Our hands are tied. There is no way we can stop registering parties. We will continue to register them until the time stipulated in the Constitution.

“By the time the issue of independent candidate takes off, there will be more problem for INEC. The highest number we have done in governorship election is in Anambra State, with 27 parties,” he said.

He spoke of the commission’s challenge in prosecuting the Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello for the offence of double registration.

He said although INEC has established that Idris registered twice, it was currently handicapped in moving against him because, as a sitting Governor, Bello was covered by immunity.

Yakubu said: “The Governor of Kogi State has immunity. There is nothing INEC can do for now. After his tenure, the issue can be revisited.”

Yakubu ruled out the issues of electronic and diaspora voting. Noting that both issues were yet to be allowed by the nation’s laws.

Malami, who was represented by the Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Legal Matters, Juliet Ibekaku-Nwangwu, said the Federal Government was committed to the reform of the electoral process to enhance its credibility.

He said the government’s desire for a credible electoral process informed its establishment of the Constitution and Electoral Reform Committee (CERC) headed by former Senate President, Ken Nnamani.

He said all the recommendations of the committee have been reduced into Bills for the National Assembly to pass into law.

Malami added: “This government believes that a credible electoral process provides a sustainable basis for the survival of democracy in Nigeria and will do everything possible to support the achievement of this.

“As part of its effort, the government has given every support to INEC including support to retain its independence and financial autonomy.

“In addition, the government has ensured that INEC is able to operate as an independent and credible. Election umpire,” Malami said.

Idris, who was represented by Joshak Habila (a Deputy Inspector General of Police), said the input the police received from all stakeholders in the nation’s electoral process, including the CSOs have assisted the agency a lot.

He said: “In preparing for the 2019 elections, I can assure you that with this interaction, we will come out better. The Nigeria Police will do all within its powers to ensure a successful elections.

“I can assure you that our readiness is assured. But our success depends on all the stakeholders, particularly the politicians.”

Mrs. Dukka, who gave details of the electoral process reform related Bills in the House of Reps, said they would have remarkable effect on the process when passed.

Some of the Bills, she said, recommend increase in the maximum election expenses to be incurred by candidates; that a court or tribunal should declare the person with the second highest votes winner of an election if it finds that the winner was not qualified to contest; and to outline a procedure for the use of the smart card reader in elections.

Mrs. Dukku said some of the Bills are also for the establishment of the Nigerian Electoral Offences Commission, and for the establishment of the Electoral Offences Tribunal to be situated in Abuja, with equal status as the High Court and with exclusive jurisdiction to try electoral offences.

She said there is also a Bill for an Act to ptovide for time frame for the submission of the list of candidates, disclosure of source of funds contributed for political parties and to empower INEC to uphold party primaries where there is a change in the result and related matters.

She added: “There is also a Bill for an Act to further amend the Section 33 of the principal Act by inserting a provision to enable a party choose the running mate of a nominated candidate who dies before the conclusion of a gubernatorial election to replace the deceased governorship candidate.

“As both the 1999 Constitution and the 2010 Electoral Act (as amended) regulate the conduct of elections in Nigeria, it is anticipated that the commitee’s report on the aforesaid amendment Bills, which is an infusion of its input and recommendations from various stakeholders, will further strengthen and deliver on such expectations.”

Mrs. Dukku said he committee was also collaborating with the ad-hoc committee for the review of the Constitution to ensure that consequential amendments relating to elections are addressed to give effect to the affected provisions.

Earlier, Nwankwo, the Executive Director of the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC) said the gathering, an annual event of the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room, is intended as a platform for stakeholders in the nation’s electoral process to evaluate their preparedness for the general elections.

He noted that, like Tuesday, those who came into office through the 2015 elections, could hardly believe that their tenure was months away, but have hardly performed to the satisfaction of the electorate.

Nwanko said it appeared the country was already running late in its preparation for the next electoral season because, in the next seven months, candidates for the various offices would begin to emerge.

He argued that the country could not afford to waste its precious time on frivolities and that elected leaders must learn to hit the ground running once they assume office.