…Says 2015 Election Will Be Better Than 2011
BEVERLY HILLS, CA, June 09, (THEWILL) – The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Monday, in Abuja said it was ready for the 2015 general elections but needs additional funding to conduct a free and fair poll.
Chairman of the Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega, disclosed this at the opening of the two-day dialogue/stakeholders forum on transparent, credible, free and fair 2015 general elections with INEC and electoral stakeholders.
He said the Commission has not been well funded in the last two years and that was affecting its operations, explaining that it was better prepared and 2015 general elections will be remarkably better than 2011.
Jega said funding of election should be a comprehensive funding programme spanning a circle instead of yearly appropriation, adding that “in other countries, issues of election are handled long before elections, but in our country, election funding has been politicised.” According to Jega, “ What is appropriated is not really adequate for our needs. We hope in the future, some of the challenges will be addressed.”
He maintained that INEC was in dire need of funds to execute the 2015 general elections, which he believed promises to be successful outing. “As I speak with you, there is a huge funding gap between what is needed and what is appropriated. But I know that Mr. President and the leadership of the National Assembly are doing their best to address the challenge,” he said, adding “it is an appropriation challenge.”
Speaking on the plans put in place by INEC to execute the 2015 elections, the chairman explained that the Commission has learnt its lessons and was poised to deliver a more credible and transparent election. He insisted that the 2015 general elections will see Nigeria take its rightful place in the global comity of nations, where electoral democracy is being consolidated.
“We are convinced that 2015 general election will be remarkably better than that of 2011. We give assurance that preparations by INEC for the 2015 general elections are proceeding in earnest.
“There are however, still a number of constraints and challenges facing the Commission. These challenges are not insurmountable and we will spare no effort to ensure the aspirations of Nigerians for free, fair, credible and peaceful elections are actualized in 2015,” Jega assured.
Part of the preparations for a successful poll, according to Jega, was the re-organisation and restructuring of INEC as well as training and retraining of its staff.
Speaking on the issue of voter register, Jega disclosed that plans have been concluded to roll out a program of Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) nationwide , explaining that INEC has stopped the use of Addendum register for elections.
He said the voter register has more integrity now as plans have been concluded to issue all duly registered voters with chip-based Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), which will be swiped with card readers in the 2015 elections to ensure 100 percent verification and authentication of voters.
Earlier in his welcome address, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, said since the advent of the current democratic governance 15 years ago, the Nigerian people have consistently yearned for free, fair, credible and transparent elections comparable with global best practices across the world. He said the establishment of the INEC under the 1999 Constitution is a demonstration of the need to firmly realise these objectives
Represented by the Minority Whip, Hon. Samson Osagie, the Speaker commended the Jega-led INEC for recording some remarkable milestones in the conduct of election
“Although INEC under the leadership of Professor Attahiru Jega has recorded remarkable successes in the handling of elections in Nigeria, there is still room for improvement. For instance, the budget for 2011 general election was acknowledged to be adequate; the introduction of Direct Data Capturing Machine for Voters Registers update of eligible voters, timely release of election time table, recruitment and training of adhoc staff, government pledge to provide level playing grounds for contestants remain some of these achievements by the INEC,” he said.
He charged the Commission to endeavour to be transparent, saying Nigerians and international observers’ common complaint in the past 15 years has been the quality of elections.
“Notable amongst the challenges that may confront INEC in ensuring a free, fair, credible and transparent 2015 general elections include the issue of transparency in the conduct of elections without fear or favour by not succumbing to any external influence or dictatorship, security of election results at all levels, returning and declaring the winners by respecting the choice of the people, issues of electronic rigging, snatching of ballot boxes and papers, timely disposal of election cases etc,” he stated.
He assured that the National Assembly, particularly, the House of Representatives was ready to provide the necessary legislative platform to ensure free, fair, credible and transparent elections in Nigeria.
In his welcome address, Chairman of the House Committee on Reform of Government Institution, Hon. Matthew Omegara, said good governance entails the fulfillment of campaign promises by elected representatives through a transparent democratic process.
SAINT MUGAGA, ABUJA
