The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has indicated plans to propose significant reforms aimed at improving Nigeria’s electoral process. The reforms, developed from insights gained during the 2023 general elections and subsequent off-cycle polls, are expected to address persistent challenges in election management.

Speaking on the plans in Abuja, INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, disclosed that the commission would soon present its legislative proposals to the relevant committees in the Senate and House of Representatives. He said, “INEC will focus on the more detailed issues of planning and reform learning from the experience of the 2023 General Election.

According to him, having released the 524-page main report on the election, a copy of which is available on the commission’s website, Prof Yakubu said the commission has consulted widely internally with their own officials and externally with all major stakeholders.

He said with the conclusion of five major off-cycle Governorship elections and nine out of 21 bye-elections since the 2023 General Election, it is now the most appropriate time for the commission to commence the implementation of the recommendations arising from the review of the General Election. Among the major highlights of the Commission’s recommendations is the imperative of legal clarity in result management, with regard to manual transfer versus the electronic transmission of results.

He said the Commission also believes that with the introduction of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), the use of the Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVC) as the sole means of identification for voter accreditation on Election Day should be reviewed.

The Chairman further stated that, the Commission intends to review the mechanisms for a more effective implementation of agreements on logistics with the transport unions and other service providers by consolidating on the recent experience with early deployment and commencement of elections in the recent Ondo State Governorship election.