A Civil Society Organisation(CSO), Yiaga Africa, has called on President Bola Tinubu to declare his stance on election reforms ahead of the 2027 poll, to inspire public confidence in the electoral processes.
The Executive Director, Yiaga Africa, Mr Samson Itodo, made the call yesterday in Abuja when he presented the group’s report at a reflection roundtable on one year after the 2023 general election.
Itodo said it was pertinent that the president built citizens’ confidence by articulating his electoral reforms agenda since it was already a year after he assumed office.
“The President is yet to make known his stand on electoral reforms and this is after one year of the elections. We are waiting for the president to unveil his electoral reforms agenda.
“As the president, he has the responsibility to address and articulate an electoral reforms agenda because of the outcome of the trends that we have observed that does not inspire public confidence.
“But also, we call on the judiciary to undertake a self-reflection, especially around conflicting judgement that was issued by the judiciary as they are very disturbing, and they input on public trust in the judiciary,’’ he said.
Itodo added: “These are some of the issues that we have highlighted, as well as the need to prosecute electoral offenders because if we are a constitutional democracy, we must adhere to the laws.’’
He said all the issues must be resolved before the 2027 general elections, adding that the 2023 election was a missed opportunity to build trust and confidence in the process.
He called on citizens, especially youths not to lose faith, because there was still hope to fix the country.
“In spite of the dissatisfaction, we have no country other than this, and they have a role. This is a journey, and we will get to that destination; that destination where a Nigerian vote will count,” Itodo said.
Also speaking, Dr. Yunusa Tanko, a one time chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) said there was the need to protect the integrity of Nigerian elections.
Tanko also stressed the need for the full autonomy of local government councils, financing of political parties, improvement of electricity and communication systems, and the end to cross-carpeting to restore sanity in elections.
Former INEC National Commissioner, Mr Festus Okoye, advised that more focus should be placed on political parties rather than the INEC.
“The people that perpetrate electoral offences are the elite in the political parties, and not the INEC.
“It is the candidates that bring in thugs to disrupt elections, and subvert the electoral laws. It is hypocritical to focus on the INEC when the main people committing the crimes are not even mentioned.
“Also, we must find a special way to protect our electoral workers, and how to deal with the road transport workers that collect money from people to sabotage the process,” Okoye said.
Chairman, Senate Committee on Electoral Matters, Sharafadeen Ali, said the 10th National Assembly was poised to conduct a critical assessment on INEC to constitute a significant part of the reforms it was undertaking.
“We are committed to engaging political parties and INEC so as to achieve the conduct of free, fair and credible elections, which is what our democracy at this stage truly deserves.”
The 71-page report by Yiaga Africa tagged: “Electoral Trust Restored? Nigeria’s Electoral Process One Year After the 2023 General Elections,” contained other findings and recommendations.