Jega urges NASS to unbundle INEC

The former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega, has called for the unbundling of the commission to make it more efficient.

Professor Jega made the call during a Citizens’ Town Hall on Electoral Reforms, organised by the Senate and House of Representatives joint committee on Electoral Matters.

He observed that INEC is saddled with too many responsibilities and that it is affecting the commission’s core responsibilities.

The former INEC Chairman also recommended a review of the appointment of the chairman, the national commissioners, and the resident electoral commissioners.

“I think the conventional method in which the President nominates, and when that happens, the candidate does not go through rigorous screening,

“We need a transparent process. We need to ensure there is full screening, and in particular, we need to ensure that the legal provisions about non-partisanship and the integrity of the people nominated are actually taken very seriously.

Jega also advocated the proscription of cross-carpeting by politicians from one party to another.

This, according to him, it will improve electoral integrity and deepened the nation’s democracy.

Other stakeholders at the event called for full implementation of the Justice Uwais report on electoral reforms, 35 affirmative action on women, as well as voter apathy.

The Chairman, House Committee on Electoral Matters, Mr Adebayon Balogun, explained that the event was organised to enable stakeholders to contribute to the electoral reform exercise.

His counterpart at the Senate, Sharafadeen Ali, stated that the recommendations from the stakeholders would be considered during the reform exercise.

SOURCE: FRCN