2023 election: INEC Recommends Voting For Nigerians In Diaspora, Special Voting For Security Personnel
The review report of the 2023 General Elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has made recommendations in support of diaspora voting where Nigerians in the diaspora will be eligible and given access to vote during elections in Nigeria.
The INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, made this known on Thursday during a meeting with the Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) at the INEC Conference Room in Abuja.
Yakubu said that the 524-page review report which focused on the Commission’s experience from the 2023 General Election, also recommended early/special voting for journalists, security personnel and other millions of Nigerians who do not vote at the moment on account of the roles they play during elections.
The INEC boss said, “The review report contains recommendations on early/special voting for the millions of Nigerians who do not vote at the moment on account of the roles they play during elections such as INEC officials, security personnel, ad hoc staff, observers and journalists who are deployed outside the places where they registered to vote.
“There are also recommendations in support of diaspora voting, the unbundling of the Commission with the establishment of electoral offences tribunal and a separate agency to handle the registration and regulation of political parties.”
Yakubu added that the Commission would also step up action on voter access and distribution to Polling Units.
According to him, “As a matter of urgency, the Commission also intends to develop protocols for the cleaning up of the voters’ register in collaboration with other agencies such as the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) and the National Population Commission (NPC).
“Other areas of reform include advocacy for affirmative action for greater participation of under-represented groups, a more robust voter education and public communication to combat fake news and misinformation.”
He said the Commission also 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.
He assured that the hardcopies of the General Election and Review reports will be presented to the public shortly, adding that the softcopy of the Report will also be uploaded to our website in earnest.`
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