Insecurity, funding threaten 2015 elections - Jega The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday listed the challenges before the 2015 elections. It promised not to use the Addendum Voter Register (AVR) for the poll. The AVR contains the names of those not captured in the Electronic Voter Register (EVR) because of late registration. Their names, according to INEC Chairman Prof. Attahiru Jega, who spoke in the United States (US), will be transferred to the EVR before the elections to avoid what happened during the Anambra State governorship poll in which the AVR was used. In a keynote address at the inauguration session of the CSIS Nigeria Forum in Washington DC, Jega listed the challenges as insecurity; funding; attitude of the political class; apathetic and inactive citizenry; delay in amendment to the legal framework; completion of the review of electoral constituencies and polling units and prosecution of election offenders. He said since Nigeria was still a country in transition to democracy, its electoral system is “therefore work in progress.” In his powerpoint presentation sent to reporters by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Kayode Idowu, Jega said: “Plans have been finalised to roll out a programme of Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) nationwide. The CVR offers fresh opportunity to get more citizens onto the electronic register ahead of the 2015 general elections as we have stopped using the Addendum Register for elections. “Our experience in the recent governorship election in Anambra State showed that we have much work to do in convincing the public of the integrity of the register of voters. “The consolidation and de-duplication of the biometric of register of voters has been completed, as a result of which the register of voters now has tremendous integrity, much better than the one with which the 2011 elections were conducted. Indeed, it compares favourably with any register of voters on the African continent. “Plans have also been concluded to issue all duly registered voters with chip-based permanent voter cards (PVCs) which will be swiped with card readers in the 2015 elections to ensure 100 percent verification and authentication of voters.” Jega assured the Civil Society Forum in the US that the 2015 polls would be successful, saying: ”From the foregoing, we are convinced that the prospects of having remarkably much better elections in 2015 are very bright. But we harbour no illusion that we have accounted for all the issues that could pose challenges for the elections. In fact, there are still a number of key challenges ”As far as INEC is concerned, the 2015 general elections will see Nigeria take its rightful place in the global comity of nations where electoral democracy is being consolidated “There are, however, still a number of constraints and challenges facing the Commission, as outlined. These challenges are not insurmountable and we will spare no effort to ensure that the aspirations of Nigerians for free, fair, credible and peaceful elections are actualised in 2015. “However, bringing this about and ensuring free, fair, credible and peaceful elections is not a task that INEC alone can deliver “All stakeholders have important roles to play. We must change attitudes and mind- sets, as well as strengthen partnerships; and collaborative endeavours, to bring this about. “We give assurance that preparations by INEC for the 2015 general elections are proceeding in earnest. “Learning from the experiences of 2011, especially regarding the need for early preparations, the Commission has undertaken the task of fundamental restructuring of its bureaucracy, established new policies to guide its work and embarked on far-reaching planning of its operations through a Strategic Plan, an Election Project Plan and an Election Management System. These are vigorously being implemented.” He said INEC had been trying to effect changes in the Electoral Act, adding: “Drawing from our experience in 2011, recommendations for improvement to the legal framework, especially the Constitution and the Electoral Act, have been submitted to the National Assembly. “A committee (COREC) was set up to review the role of the Commission in election- related litigations, and it has made far- reaching recommendations on improvements towards 2015. A programme for the review of electoral constituencies and creation of additional polling units has commenced. “All guidelines and regulations on the electoral process are being revised and discussion has commenced with legal experts across the country on how to enact and gazette them.” Describing Nigeria as a country in transition to democracy, Jega said: “We are still nurturing a democratic political culture after many years of military rule and the anti-democratic tendencies it fostered. Our electoral system is therefore work in progress “The main task is to implement reform measures, aimed at incremental positive changes that are sustainable. Democratisation, in all societies, is neither swift nor smooth-sailing. It is a long and tortuous process that takes place in incremental waves.”
Posted on: Wed, 29 Jan 2014 08:25:54 +0000
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