From Romanus Ugwu, Abuja
Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmood Yakubu, has charged Residents Electoral Commissioners (RECs) to furnish the commission with their plans to decongest and enhance voter access to polling units and manage electoral logistics and election security.
He gave the charge in his remarks at the second quarterly consultative meeting with RECs held at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday.
He also challenged them to explore other areas like cleaning-up of the voters’ register, and deepening the commission’s engagement with electoral stakeholders at State and Local Government levels.
The electoral umpire boss admitted that he is concerned about the various interpretations given to the review of election results as contained in Section 65 of the Electoral Act 2022.
Speaking to the RECs, Yakubu said: “There are policy and procedural issues already determined by the commission which you need to implement without prompting from the headquarters in Abuja. Some of you are already doing so, but you need to intensify your effort. You do not need an elaborate conference or workshop to build the capacity of your staff to improve on their knowledge of new policies and practical innovations introduced by the commission to improve electoral service delivery to Nigerians.”
“You also need to provide us with information on your plans to enhance voter access to polling units by decongesting some of them or in other areas such as the cleaning-up of the voters’ register, deepening our engagement with electoral stakeholders at State and Local Government levels, the management of electoral logistics and election security.
“I wish to remind you that elections and electoral activities take place in the States of the Federation and your role as managers of personnel and resources is critical for success. You can only effectively discharge your responsibilities when you are knowledgeable and committed.
“I encourage you to intensify your effort so that we will play our part in what is a multi-stakeholder responsibility more effectively,” he appealed.
On review of electoral results, Yakubu said: “As we approach the bye-elections, the off-cycle governorship elections and ultimately the 2027 general election, the commission is concerned with the various interpretations given to the provision of Section 65 of the Electoral Act 2022 on the review of election results.
“Pursuant to our powers to issue regulations, guidelines and manuals to give effect to the provisions of the Electoral Act and for its administration, the commission is working on a supplement to the Regulations and Guidelines for the Conduct of Elections 2022 to provide clarity on the review of declaration and return at elections.
“As soon as the commission takes a decision, perhaps as early as this week, the supplementary Regulations and Guidelines will be uploaded to our website and other platforms for public information,” he revealed.