Electoral Reform Panel Mulls Giving INEC Powers to Disqualify Candidate

The Electoral Reform Panel is considering giving the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) sweeping powers to disqualify candidates found wanting in electoral processes, to help overcome myriad of challenges militating against the process of credible election in the country.

This is as the Chairman Electoral Reform Committee, Senator Ken Nnamani has charged Nigerians to contribute positively to the process of ongoing electoral reform in the nation.

Nnamani, who spoke in Jos, Plateau state, weekend at the North-Central Zonal public hearing on constitutional review, added that primary election is as important as the proper election, noting that the process of primary election should be transparent to give credibility to the proper elections.

He said, “Primary elections are as important just as the proper or final election is important in any nation. We have been considering whether INEC should be given more authorities to tackle most of these electoral problems and sanction accordingly for electoral offences.

“We are also looking at the possibility of INEC disqualifying candidates as opposed to what is happening now. A process should also be put in place to reduce litigations.”

Also speaking, Governor of Plateau state, Mr. Simon Lalong said the history of elections in this country has not been a pleasant one, adding that at each stage of elections, there are established and reported cases of violence associated with the process.

He added that the general perception is that elections in Nigeria are characterised by a lot of malpractices depriving the people of their true choices for their desired leaders.

While lamenting that reports of past Reform Committees were never implemented, Lalong said such has created rooms for more malpractices, which commonly lead to violence and destruction of lives and properties.

The Governor implored the committee and participants to look at all reports, especially that of Justice Uwais, with the view to getting some of their laudable recommendations and marrying them with the current views and realities on ground to bring out a document that will sustain democracy.

In his contribution, the Governor of Nasarawa state Alhaji Tanko Almakura, who was represented by the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Ibrahim Abdullahi, also implored the committee to revisit the Justice Uwais Committee report and work towards the implementation of the entire report at the end of the exercise.

The Governor, who advocated for the Electoral Offenses Commission for prompt resolution of electoral malpractices, said all election petitions must be resolved within six months and should terminate at the High Court.