Come out en mass and participate in the ongoing voters registration(CVR) Deltans urged.
The Delta State Civil Society Organizations Forum (DELCOF), the umbrella body of Non-State Actors in Delta State, on Monday, have urged Nigerians particularly Deltans to participate in the on-going continuous voters registration exercise by INEC.
Chairman of the forum Dr. Agboro Andrew, gave the advice in an interview with newsmen in Warri, the commercial nerve of Delta State. While Speaking, Dr Agboro said, Nigerians, irrespective of political party divide must give “Red Cards” to non-performing public office holders through their participation in democratization.
We now have an electoral law that brings us closer to having free, fair, credible and peaceful elections in which the people’s votes count, where the majority will have their way and the minority will have their say. For too long, the old electoral law had been part of the problem. We can now seek to elect our leaders having in mind the current challenges facing our country. “With a new Electoral Act, we can move on to debating real solutions to the problems of insecurity, strengthening of the economy, bolstering national unity and building a better future for all Nigerians.”
The new law provides opportunity for all Nigerians of age 18 and above to be part of the efforts to build a better future for our country particularly Delta State. We now have the chance to have our voices heard loud and clear. We can all choose a better way and a better future. If we want a fresh start, if we want a new direction for Nigeria, we all have to vote for it. “I therefore enjoin citizens and my numerous colleagues to come out en mass and actively participate in the on-going Continuous Voters Registration Exercise and vote in the forthcoming general elections
Pastor Edewor Egedegbe Coordinator, Transition Monitoring Group (TMG) Delta State, Member of Delcof BOT said, the newly signed Electoral Act is a death knell for political parties which thrives in manipulations, ballot box snatching, ballot box stuffing and alteration of election results in collation centers against the expressed will of the people. We believe with this new law, democratization in Nigeria will take another dimension
Dr Mrs Omawumi Urhobo member of the BOT said, there are several takeaways from the newly signed Electoral Act by President Buhari that will promote accountability and transparency in our electoral process in Nigeria. Speaking further, she added that DELCOF is committed to carry out thorough sensitisation of citizens across the 25 Local Government Areas of the State devoid of political parties and politicians motivation neither influence. Therefore charge political parties to fully comprehend with the law for the better of our dear Nation, Nigeria.
- Early conduct of party primaries
The amended Electoral Act gives room for early conduct of party primaries and early submission of candidates’ list as captured in Clause 29(1) of the 2022 electoral bill. In Section 29(1), the newly signed Electoral Act makes it a law for political parties to conduct their primaries and submit the list of candidates at least 180 days (6 months) before the general elections. The list of candidates submitted must emerge from valid primaries conducted by the political party.
- Mode of primary now prerogative of parties
A clause in the newly signed Electoral Act gives political parties the freedom to choose the form of primary that suits them, which could be by direct or indirect primary, or by a consensus whereby a particular candidate is declared unopposed, thus bringing to an end one of the contending issues that made President initially withhold his assent to the Bill.
- Early commencement of campaigns
In Clause 94 of the new Electoral Bill, the period for campaigns by political parties has been extended from “90 to 150 days before the election day, and must be rounded up 24 hours before the polling day.”
- Early release of election funds to INEC
The newly signed Electoral Act has a clause where the federal government must release election funds to INEC not later than one year before a general election. This is contained in Clause 3(3) of the Act which “provides that all funding required for a general election is released not later than one year before the general elections.”
- Electronic transmission of results
Section 50 of the Act allows INEC to determine the procedure for voting at an election as well as the transmission of results, either electronically or manually. Clause 47 of the Electoral Bill also allows voters to be electronically accredited using Smart Card Readers or any other technical equipment determined by INEC.
- Right to review election results declared under duress
To curb against incidents where returning officers are forced to declare election results under duress, Clause 65 of the new Electoral Bill has empowered INEC with the “authority to evaluate declarations and returns made under dubious circumstances.” By this measure, it is believed that such manipulations which could alter the results management process, has been taken care of, thereby “discouraging politicians from pressuring INEC staff to declare manufactured election results that can only be disputed in court.”
- Prohibition of substituted candidates
Another key takeaway from the newly signed Electoral Act is the prohibition of “unnecessary substitution of candidates by political parties.” According to Section 33 of the Act, political parties are not allowed to change or substitute a candidate whose name has been submitted to the Commission. However, the only proviso which the Act allows for such to happen is if “the candidate dies prior to the election” and in such a scenario, Section 34 of the Act allows the political parties power to conduct a fresh primary election to replace the “deceased candidate who dies after the polls have begun but before the final results are announced and a winner is declared.”
- Political neutrality
Clause 84 of the new Electoral Act stipulates that “anyone holding a political office – ministers, commissioners, special advisers, and others – must relinquish the position before they can be eligible to participate in the electoral process either as a candidate or as a delegate.” Though there is a recent court judgement from Federal High Court, Umuahia asking that the above section 84 (12) be deleted. Furthermore, Clause 8(5), grants political neutrality to INEC personnel and what this means is that a politician or member of a political party cannot be an INEC official at the same time.
INEC needs to improve its operational delivery capacity. We also think that INEC needs to do a comprehensive lesson learned exercise and undertake an independent evaluation so that the challenges and risks in the use of BVAS can be addressed before the general elections