The House of Representatives Committee on Electoral Matters has disclosed that efforts were on to amend the section of the constitution that vests the power to appoint the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on the president and place it in the hands of the National Judicial Counci (NJC).
During a meeting with a coalition of civil society organisations (CSOs) led by the chairman of the Transition Monitoring Group (TMG), Mr Moshood Erubami, yesterday, the committee stated that it would also give way for independent candidature in the 2015 elections in line with the recommendations of the Justice Mohammed Uwais-led Electoral Review Committee.
Chairman of the committee Hon Jerry Manwe said? that the two issues were among the measures the National Assembly would reconsider in its commitment to strengthening the electoral process.
“The committee will soon come up with an action plan on how we can perfect the electoral process.
The issue of reconsidering independent candidature and appointment of INEC chairman would be taken up by my committee at an expanded meeting with civil society organisations and other stakeholders.
We at the National Assembly are very committed to strengthening the electoral process and giving it the credibility it deserved.”
The CSOs had earlier asked the committee to take more serious steps in advancing the cause of credible elections in the country by effecting appropriate amendments to the constitution and the Electoral Act to legalise independent candidature as well as empower the NJC to appoint the INEC boss.
The CSOs equally asked the National Assembly to ensure that INEC was unbundled so as to make it more focussed and effective in the conduct of elections.
They also demanded the introduction of electronic voting to enhance the transparency of the electoral process.
Unbundling INEC, the CSOs said, would allow the electoral body to focus on its core business of election administration and management.
“We specifically suggest transferring responsibilities of the following to separate bodies: political party registration; electoral offences adjudication through the creation of an electoral offences commission, a centre for democratic studies to co-ordinate voter education.”