By Harry Awurumibe, Editor, Abuja Bureau
The nation’s electoral umpire, IndependentNational Electoral Commission (INEC) has warned the 18 registered political parties to shun a deliberate infractions to the 2022 Electoral Act essentially by allowing the electoral process to run smoothly thereby growing a rich democratic culture and acceptable election outcome.
The Commission has also promised that it will scrupulously apply the laws without fear or favour to ensure free, fair, credible, inclusive and transparent election come February, 2023.
INEC Chairman Professor Mahmood Yakubu stated these in his Keynote Address at the 4th Abubakar Momoh Memorial Lecture on “Electoral Act 2022: Imperatives for Political Parties and the 2023 General Elections” held on Wednesday August, 2022 at The Electoral Institute (TEI), Abuja.
According to him, the 4th Abubakar Momoh Memorial Lecture is focused on the “Electoral Act 2022: Imperatives for Political Parties and the 2023 General Election” to enlighten and sensitize political parties on the new provisions in the Act and the derivative subsidiary laws of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Yakubu also said that the Prof. Abubakar Momoh Memorial Lecture is a platform established by the Commission to project the ideals of a social activist and an advocate of citizens involvement in Elections and Nation building.
He said it is therefore befitting to ride on this platform for advocacy on the electoral legal framework that will drive the 2023 General Election.
Speaking further after calling for a one minute silence for the repose of the soul of our the erudite scholar, the INEC boss posited that it is necessary to hold the above parley with the chairmen of all the registered political parties in Nigeria to delibrate on the 2022 Electoral Act.
His remarks read in parts: “Distinguished Guest, Ladies and Gentlemen. You may recall that on 25th February 2022, President Muhammadu Buhari signed the 2022 Electoral Act Amendment Bill into law, The 2022 Electoral Act (“the new Act”) repeals the Electoral Act No. 6, 2010 (“the former Act”) and is intended to bring innovations to the processes and procedures for the conduct of Elections in line with the mandate of the Commission.
“As the 2023 general elections draws near, it is imperative for all stakeholders especially the Political parties to note the major features introduced by the new Electoral Act 2022 and the possible implications of these changes on the upcoming elections: the happenings that accompanied the recent party primaries attest to this.
“These changes include amongst others, the conduct of Early Party Primaries by Political parties, technological changes in the electoral process, the Commission’s power to Review the decision of the Returning Officer and Overvoting based on the number of accredited Voters.
“These new initiatives as contained in the Law served as the bedrock for the reviewed Regulations and Guidelines for the Conduct of Elections 2022 released by the Commission on 24th May 2022. This in turn dictated the review of the Manual for Election Officials, 2022.
“Let me draw your attention to the fact that the use of electronic devices such as the Bimodal Voters Accreditation System (BVAS), INEC Voter Enrolment Device (IVED), INEC Results Viewing Portal (IRev) and other technological devices, are now legally allowed in the accreditation process for voters, collation of results and in the general conduct of elections, Please be assured that these innovations are intended to deepen the Electoral Process in our Country and their optimal performance in the just concluded gubernatorial election in Ekiti and Osun States is an eloquent testimony to their electoral value. We shall only do more to consolidate their deployment in our election.
“Once again, I wish to assure you that INEC has no preferred party or candidate. We shall only ensure that all valid votes count and the winners are decided solely by the voters.
“Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, when a guru of the stature of Prof Yemi Akinseye-Geoge, SAN, FCI Arb is the guest lecturer to speak on Electoral Legal Framework, it is wise counsel not to utter a word on the theme of today’s lecture. I will only remind you that these imperatives contained in the Electoral act are ingredients for party building, stabilization of Electoral rules and democratic consolidation.
“These are miles stones in Nation building for which Prof. Abubakar fought for in his lifetime, he was always at the forefront of advocating for free, fair, credible and participatory electoral system through research, capacity building for the staff of the Commission, and engagement of vigorous voter education activities.
“I therefore thank the organizers of this lecture and appreciate the choice of the lead speaker, a renowned legal practitioner and former Professor of Law at Afe Babalola University who would do justice to the theme of this lecture.
“I hold a conviction that the discussions would be robust and engaging and that Party Chairmen and members present would be committed to ensuring that the 2023 General election would be devoid of deliberate infractions to the 2022 Electoral Act essentially by allowing the electoral process to run smoothly thereby growing a rich democratic culture and acceptable election outcome.
“INEC will scrupulously apply the laws without fear of favour to ensure free, fair, credible, inclusive and transparent election come February, 2023”.
