…Say It Represents a Big Step for Making Nigeria’s Elections More Transparent, Credible
…Hail Provisions for Electronic Transfer of Results, Concise Definition on Over Voting
…Maintain Bill Will Enhance Greater Citizens’ Participation in Electoral Process
…Urge President Buhari to Honour Commitment to Bequeath Electoral System that Guarantees Credible, Inclusive, Peaceful Elections

A group of civil society organizations have called on President Muhammadu Buhari to urgently give assent to the Electoral Bill 2021, which they say, is in tandem to the will of the Nigerian people for a free and fair elections, in order to seamlessly fastrack preparations for the next General Elections holding in 2023.

Urging the President to honour his avowed commitment to bequeath an electoral system that will guarantee credible, inclusive and peaceful elections, they maintain that the Bill contains specific provisions that are directed at enhancing the quality and credibility of the country’s elections and address certain lacunas in the existing electoral legal framework.

Such provisions in the Bill, according to the group, include: Legal backing for the use of electoral technologies for the purpose of voter accreditation and electronic transmission of election results; extension of restrictive timelines for electoral activities, concise definition of over voting and the conferment of legal authority on INEC to review questionable election results.

While welcoming the President’s decision to ask for the advise of certain ministries, department and agencies, the group expressed the hope that in making their inputs to the Bill, the respective officials will be guided by the overriding public interest to strengthen our democratic process.

They posit that the Bill in its current state will not only encourage increased citizens’ participation in the electoral process, but it will also further enhance the capacity of the democratic institutions to improve the transparency and legitimacy of electoral outcomes.

Their statement signed by eight civil society organizations that have spearheaded the campaign for a credible and more transparent elections, and released in Abuja on Thursday, stated in parts:

“The Presidency on 19th November 2021 acknowledged the receipt of the Electoral Bill 2021 from the National Assembly for Presidential assent.

“The Bill contains specific provisions that are directed at enhancing the quality and credibility of elections and address certain lacunas in the existing electoral legal framework.

“Such provisions in the Bill include: Legal backing for the use of electoral technologies for the purpose of voter accreditation and electronic transmission of election results; extension of restrictive timelines for electoral activities, concise definition of over voting and the conferment of legal authority on INEC to review questionable election results.

“The undersigned Civil Society Organizations welcome the decision of the President to invite the comment of relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government on the Bill. In this regard, the input from the Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Minister of the Interior, Minister of Finance and the Inspector General of the Police are probably the most crucial.

“In their consideration of the Bill, these Office Holders should be guided by the overriding public interest to strengthen our electoral process and the consolidation of our democracy.

“It is our firm belief that the Bill in its current state will not only encourage increased citizens’ participation in the electoral process, but it will also further enhance the capacity of the democratic institutions to improve the transparency and legitimacy of electoral outcomes.

“Furthermore, the timely assent to the Electoral Bill 2021 will facilitate early preparations and efficient election administration of the 2023 General Election, which is just 443 days away.

“It must be emphasized that the successful conduct of any elections is predicated on the certainty and clarity of the election legal framework, amongst other factors. This is to preclude any legal uncertainties that may occasion manipulation and subversion of the electoral process.

“It is for this reason that the African Charter on Democracy, Elections, and Good Governance and the ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance requires that any amendment to the electoral legal framework must be concluded at least six months to the date of election.” the group argue.

The group also made the following recommendations:

* The President should timeously assent to the Electoral Bill 2021 which is in congruence with the will and aspirations of the Nigerian people.
* President Muhammadu Buhari must continue to pursue and honour his commitment to bequeath to Nigerians an electoral system that guarantees the conduct of credible, inclusive and peaceful elections.
* Further amendments to the Electoral Bill 2021 by the National Assembly should be undertaken in the
next electoral cycle based on real and perceived lacuna identified in the implementation of the current Bill.

The statement was signed by Yiaga Africa, International Press Centre (IPC), Centre for Citizens with Disability (CCD), Albino Foundation, CLEEN Foundation, Others are the Institute for Media and Society (IMS), Nigerian Women Trust Fund (NWTF) and Premium Times Centre for Investigative Journalism (PTCIJ).

Responding to the fears that the President may not give assent to the Bill because of his decision to ask for the comments of some ministries, departments and agencies, Executive Director, Yiaga Africa, Mr Samson Itodo says, the President’s action is not new but urge the officials concerned to be guided by the overriding public interest to strengthen the country’s democratic process.

“If the President refused to give assent and decides to return the Bill to the National Assembly, we’ll be urging the National Assembly to defend and veto the Bill,” quips David Obinna Anyeale, executive director, Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD).

On whether the country was not surrendering its electoral process to machines and that INEC was not being given too much powers, Mr Lanre Arogundade, executive director, International Press Centre (IPC), contends that technology deployment kickstarted 10 years ago by the Commission has enhanced the credibility of the country’s elections. He also said the INEC needed to be empowered to carry out its functions of delivering a fraud free elections.

“The media is there to play its oversight role on INEC and check any misuse of powers,” Arogundade says.