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From Kenneth Udeh, Abuja
Senator Emmanuel Nwachukwu, representing Anambra South, has highlighted key reform concerns raised during the one-day retreat of the Joint National Assembly Committee on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), held on Wednesday at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja.
The retreat, which brought together lawmakers, electoral experts, civil society organisations, and the newly appointed INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, featured a closed-door technical session aimed at refining proposals for amendments to the Electoral Act 2022.
Speaking to The SUN shortly after the meeting, Senator Nwachukwu stressed that one of the major concerns discussed was the awkwardness of requiring INEC to defend itself during electoral dispute processes.
“From what I can tell you, based on what was discussed in Lagos, what was apparent was that making INEC defend themselves makes it awkward because, in that case, you don’t expect that INEC will come and say that the election they conducted was bad,” he said.
Early Voting: Security Personnel, Journalists, Observers Should Not Be Disenfranchised
Nwachukwu disclosed that early voting was another significant issue deliberated at the retreat. He noted that several categories of citizens, security operatives, journalists, accredited observers, presiding officers, and other INEC staff are often denied the opportunity to vote because they are deployed outside their registered polling units on Election Day.
“The point is that security personnel, journalists, accredited observers, people who have to leave the areas where they registered to move to other areas to work, the presiding officers and others who work with INEC, should be allowed to vote a week or two before the election,” the senator explained.
He stressed that the current system amounts to disenfranchisement, but noted that the committee acknowledged the merit of the argument while raising concerns about procedural complications.
“The committee said, yes, we recognise that, but that will now introduce a certain level of complexity into the electoral process itself.
They said: let’s sort out where we are now before bringing in such complexity. Those are some of the issues we discussed, and I agree with the submission of the committee.”
Nwachukwu Rejects Split Elections, Says Nigeria Should Return to Same-Day Polls
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Senator Nwachukwu, however, parted ways with the committee on the issue of staggered elections. While the joint committee resolved to maintain the current system in which presidential/National Assembly elections are conducted separately from governorship/state assembly polls, the senator expressed firm disagreement.
“The other one is the same-day elections. There were all kinds of issues, and the joint committee resolved that the best option is to continue with the way it was. But I don’t agree with it,” he stated.
He argued that Nigeria had previously conducted presidential, National Assembly, governorship and state assembly elections on the same day, noting that the arrangement was cost-effective and less burdensome for the electoral body.
“Same-day elections have been held in this country. Every election we had before had the presidential and federal elections together, as well as the state and House of Assembly elections. It was cheaper. When you duplicate it, you bear the cost twice. Given where we are now, it makes no sense.”
Stakeholders Push for Broader Electoral Reforms
The retreat forms part of ongoing engagements to strengthen Nigeria’s electoral legal framework, with lawmakers expected to consolidate recommendations ahead of the next round of amendments to the Electoral Act.
The closed-door technical meeting, attended by Professor Amupitan and other senior INEC officials, reviewed proposals touching on election logistics, technology deployment, dispute resolution, and voter inclusion.
Senator Nwachukwu reaffirmed his commitment to supporting reforms that enhance transparency, reduce costs, and protect the rights of all eligible voters.
The joint committee is expected to issue a formal communiqué after harmonising inputs from the technical session and broader stakeholder engagements.
