By Harry Awurumibe, Editor, Abuja Bureau
Nigeria’s electoral umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said the Early Warning Signs of tracking the electoral process have assisted the Commission in many ways in Election Monitoring and Support Centers (EMSC).
INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu made these remarks during the Retreat on the Optimization of the Election Monitoring and Support Centre, (EMSC) operational structure held at the Swalino Hotel and Suites in Keffi, Nasarawa state on Friday.
Yakubu admitted that as a result of its effectiveness and efficiency, many countries have had to visit the Commission to understudy how it works and later put measures in place in adopting it as a method in their own country for better electoral fortune.
According to him the process may just be another way for the Commission and Nigeria in contributing their quota to electoral management in the world.
Said he: “In the build-up to the 2019 General Election, it became increasingly clear to the Commission that a co-ordinated Early Warning, Monitoring, and Implementation System was necessary to track hundreds of inter-related electoral activities in the Election Project Plan for the 2019 General Election.
“Accordingly, the Commission accepted the recommendations of the 2019 Election Project Plan Committee (EPPC) to integrate the three monitoring mechanisms of the Commission – the EMS, ERM, and EOSC – into a single unit called the Election Monitoring and Support Centre (EMSC)”.
Yakubu also stated that: “The EMSC has greatly helped the Commission in managing the electoral process. As a testimony to its robustness as an election management tool, many countries in the West African Region and beyond have shown interest in studying and adopting the system for their use.
“The Ethiopian and Malawi Electoral Commissions are already considering the deployment of some aspects of the tool in the management of their elections. The EMSC may well be another contribution of INEC (and indeed Nigeria) to election management in the world.
“As pioneers, we need to keep pushing the frontiers of this system, fortifying its strengths, addressing its challenges, and expanding its reach in the conduct and management of elections. Having deployed it for the 2019 General Election, the Commission has certainly seen its advantages as well as its challenges. The advantages need to be strengthened and improved upon while resolving the anticipated challenges before the 2023 General Election which is just 560 days away”, the INEC Chairman stated.
The erudite scholar therefore enjoined staff of INEC to continue to work as a team and possibly suggest ways on how to keep improving on the EMSCs as a way to make the process easier for everyone. He however thanked the European Commission for their support saying INEC has recorded another fit by being the first in Africa to commence online registration of voters.
Said he: “This Retreat is therefore crucial to the EMSC and the Commission. I urge you all to work round the clock in these two days to suggest novel ways of tweaking the EMSC, addressing its challenges, and formulating comprehensive policy guidelines for its operation. It must be repositioned to discharge its most primary responsibilities of providing early warning, identifying threats/risks, monitoring the implementation of election activities, and ensuring real-time and accurate information to the Commission on all field-related activities that have a direct bearing on elections.
“I am glad that this retreat is taking place six weeks after the commencement of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise. Over the last five weeks, eligible citizens have been allowed online and then complete it physically at designated centers. At the same time, those who prefer the in-person option can register at any of our State or Local Government offices nationwide. The two processes are going ahead simultaneously. We are glad that INEC is the first Election Management Body (EMB) to introduce online voter registration in Africa.
“The benefits are already encouraging. Citizens are served promptly and seamlessly without congestion at the registration centers and in full compliance with COVID-19 protocols. I wish to assure Nigerians that we will continue to innovate for the transparency and credibility of our elections. We will continue to work hard to ensure that citizens have a pleasant experience at every stage of the process.
“On this note, I want to appreciate the Directorate of Planning and Monitoring and other staff of the Commission for their efforts in making this retreat a reality. Let me also appreciate the European Centre for Electoral Support (ECES), for the consistent partnership with the Commission, including the organization of this retreat. We are looking forward to such positive collaboration that would enhance our preparation and planning for the 2023 General Election”, the INEC boss said.
