Abuja School of Social and Political Thought and organised labour have unveiled a ‘National Action Plan on Electoral Reform’ with a call to overhaul Nigeria’s electoral system.
TAS executive director Sam Amadi, who presented the initiative in Abuja, said NASAER outlined a comprehensive strategy to strengthen Nigeria’s electoral process, ensuring transparency, fairness and inclusivity.
Mr Amadi described NASAER as an initiative by the TAS, the political committees of the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress. Other partners are the Coalition of United Political Parties and the Inter-Party Advisory Council.
Mr Amadi said the reform was aimed at guaranteeing credible, free, and fair general elections in 2027 and beyond.
He added that the initiative further demonstrated the commitment of the organisations to electoral justice and the deepening of democracy in Nigeria through electoral integrity.
According to him, the initiative is not just about reforming electoral laws but about developing a holistic election management system.
Mr Amadi said that experiences of the 2023 general elections and other off-season elections showed the sources of threats to free and fair elections.
He stated that recommendations were made regarding the INEC and the judiciary on electoral adjudication to promote integrity and transparency.
Mr Amadi said that they also sought legislative reforms to the Electoral Act, expanding the appointment clause for the chairman of INEC and other members of the commission.
According to him, the existing order whereby the president appoints the commission’s chairman and members with the Senate confirmation should change.
“The Uwais Committee report recommended that the appointment of the INEC commissioners should be similar to the appointment of judges and that it should be based on a competitive process with a body similar to the National Judicial Council put in place.
“In this case, the president merely makes a routine appointment from the list submitted to him, while another body will review such appointments,” he said.
(NAN)
