Concerns over the interpretation and application of provisions of Section 63 of the Electoral Act dominated discussions on electoral reform, with calls for clearer guidelines, broader consultation, and improved training ahead of future elections.
Speaking in an interview on ARISE News on Thursday, Ezenwa Nwagwu, Executive Director of Peering Advocacy and Advancement Centre in Africa, said electoral guidelines must be developed through inclusive consultation and not in isolation by the Independent National Electoral Commission. He stressed that “these guidelines should be available to stakeholders,” adding that “they have to be clear, they have to be fair, they have to have inputs of stakeholders.”
He explained that stakeholder ownership is key to electoral credibility, noting that political parties and civil society must be involved through structures such as the Inter-Party Advisory Council to identify and address ambiguities before elections.
On legislative reforms, Nwagwu argued that constant amendments are not always the solution. “There is no way in the world where you can legislate… in fact, I think that our election is over legislated,” he said, adding that strengthening trust in institutions is equally important.
He further stated that where amendments are not possible within limited timeframes, broader consultation in guideline development becomes essential. “What needs to happen is to broaden that consultation in the preparation for guidelines in the immediate,” he said.
On election-day operations, he highlighted challenges around staffing and training, noting that INEC relies heavily on temporary personnel. “INEC does not have both drivers, cleaners, up to directors and members of the national commission, just about 14, less than 15,000 staffs to man 176,000 plus polling units, that’s going to be impossible,” he said.
He therefore called for structured and continuous training, saying, “You can have a graduated training that helps you reach all the youth members of the national youth service,” adding that ad hoc staff must be properly guided to ensure compliance and reduce errors during elections.
Nwagwu also stressed the importance of accountability in the use of discretion during elections, warning that oversight remains critical to electoral credibility.
Ademide Adebayo
Follow us on:
