Without Reforms, Nigeria May Spend Double In Conducting 2023 General Elections– YIAGA

By Matthew Ogune, Abuja

The Executive Director of YIAGA Africa, Samson Itodo, has expressed fear that the country may spend double of what it spent in conducting the 2019 general elections if it fails to embrace electoral reform before the next general election.

Itodo stated this yesterday during the Yiaga Africa-European Centre for Electoral Support (ECES)/European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN), virtual roundtable/town hall meeting on electoral reforms”.

Describing electoral reform as a democratic project that promotes common good, social stability and national development, he warned that the reform must not be limited to legal or constitution amendment as they extend to administrative.

The director said there was need to build a consensus on priority issues for electoral reforms through an inclusive and collaborative process, stressing the need to also hold legislatures and executive to account of their commitment to electoral reforms.

Suggesting, December 2020 to the definite time frame for the conclusion of all electoral reforms, Itodo canvassed for a massive mobilisation of citizens to advocate and promote electoral reforms at the local, state and national levels.

Also speaking, the Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman, Rotimi Onyenkami who listed the eight entities connected to electoral reform to include, the INEC, political parties, Civil Society Organizations, registered voters, judiciary, security agencies, media and development partners, noted that the major entity the country needed to tackle was the political parties, adding that they are major infuencers of other entities.

On his part ECES Coordination Advisor/Electoral Administration Expert, Manji Wilson contended that there was so much any electoral stakeholder can do given the loopholes in the legal regime.

Wilson said: ‘Yes, a lot has been done, however, a lot more still needs to be done with all hands on deck to ensure Nigeria gets the legal regime it truly deserves which needs to be comprehensive, transparent and inclusive.

“This will go a long way in ensuring successful, inclusive, free and fair elections and by extension engineering good governance.

“There’s no doubt, the media constituency has an important role to play in achieving this.

“ECES in March supported the INEC to convene an important bilateral retreat with both Committees in the National Assembly, that is the Senate Committee on INEC and the House Committee on Electoral Matters”

“A lot of exchanges on reviewing important sections of the electoral act occurred within those few days. This we learnt was the first of its kind. That process is still ongoing and we are reassured by the Commission’s commitment on delivering the elections Nigerians deserve.

“Despite the barrage of issues plaguing the media landscape, you have shown tremendous resilience and commitment towards the growth, development and sustenance of democratic tenets in Nigeria.

“In this regard, we expect more commitment to high ethical standards and professionalism in your reportage of electoral and political proceedings as this will go a long way in entrenching development of the process, beginning with critical issues of electoral reforms. Furthermore, more attention should be given to the rising spate of fake news and disinformation which threatens our democracy.

“ECES always stands ready to engage with the media constituency in our support to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC Nigeria within the EU-SDGN.”