A civil society organization, YIAGA Africa, on Tuesday called for the restructuring of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to enhance the country’s electoral system.
YIAGA’s Executive Director, Samson Itodo, who made the call while speaking at a Townhall meeting in Abuja, said INEC is presently struggling to catch its breath and needs to be unbundled.
Addressing issues hindering the effectiveness of the electoral system in the country, Itodo observed that the Commission has enormous responsibilities.
Itodo also advocated the establishment of an electoral offences commission and a political party regulatory and registration commission to reduce the burden on INEC.
He said, “There are five key priorities that we put on the agenda; the first one is the need to unbundle INEC. As it stands, INEC needs to breathe. INEC is struggling to breathe because there are enormous responsibilities vested in the electoral commission.
“So the need for an electoral offences commission, the need for a political party regulatory and registration commission is critical and Nigerians want an INEC that is unbundled.”
Itodo also supported demands by Nigerians that those in the Diaspora, INEC officials and other individuals who may be on essential duty on election day, should also be allowed to vote.
“Nigerians are also asking that Diaspora voting and early voting for critical stakeholders in our electoral process, such as INEC officials, election observers, security agents and all officials who are on election duty on election day; they should be able to cast their votes, including prisoners or inmates,” he said
