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[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”30px”][vc_row_inner el_id=”newsletters”][vc_column_inner width=”1/6″][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”2/3″][vc_custom_heading text=”Will Mr. President Assent to the Amended Electoral Bill?” font_container=”tag:h1|font_size:22|text_align:justify|color:%236699cc|line_height:1.8″ use_theme_fonts=”yes”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/6″][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_empty_space height=”25px”][vc_column_text]
As the 2019 elections draw closer one of the major issues on the table is the amendment to the Electoral Act which has been subject of an interesting game of ping-pong between the President and the legislators. The Senate has recently transmitted yet another amended version of this bill to the President for assent – I think for the 4th time. Whilst we await Mr. President’s signature or decline, it is important to understand some key amendments the bill seeks to introduce and how they play out in the political space.
The amended electoral bill seems to have introductions that if well implemented may serve the purpose of tightening the electoral process and reduce the possibility for election rigging to the barest minimum. One major highlight is the use of card readers or other technological devises to accredit a voter. The current law says a Presiding Officer will only issue a voter a ballot paper once he confirms that his name is on the register of voters. However, the amendment seeks to ensure that the proof that your name is on the voters’ register should be via card readers – so technology must be deployed to determine if your name is on the voters register and you are who you claim to be. Along these same lines, the bill now has a provision that mandates INEC to conduct elections by electronic voting or any other method of voting as it may determine from time to time. Electronic voting (or E-Voting) refers to voting using electronic means to either aid or take care of the chores of casting and counting votes. Depending on the particular implementation, e-voting may use standalone electronic voting machines or computers connected to the Internet so that people can cast their votes and the computer counts automatically. In addition to the above, the new amendment now mandates INEC to go beyond printing the voter’s register – INEC is now required to duplicate and save voters register in an electronic format. With this system anyone can request INEC to issue certified copies of the voters register either in printed copies or electronic formats. In relation to observers, the legislators have sought to amend the law to create additional observation privileges for polling agents by allowing inspection of election materials, as well as making written and audio visual recordings of their inspections before commencement of elections. Accredited observers and officials of the Commission are also added to the list of persons who can make these inspections under the proposed amendment. There is also an amendment that mandates digital storage and archiving of election results by INEC at its national headquarters. And a related amendment that mandates the Commission to record details of electoral materials such as the quantities, serial numbers, particulars of result sheets and other sensitive materials used to conduct elections. Failure to do so shall cause the election to be invalid. The legislators have tried to address the issue of arbitrary and exorbitant fees imposed on candidates by political parties with a new provision that prescribes limits for nomination forms for each elective offices: N150,000 for a Ward Councillorship aspirant in the FCT; N250,000 for an Area Council Chairmanship aspirant in the FCT; N500,000 for a State House of Assembly aspirant; N1,000,000 for a House of Representatives aspirant; N2,000,000 for a Senatorial aspirant; N5,000,000 for a Governorship aspirant; and N10, 000,000 for a Presidential aspirant. This provision outlaws any requirement or criteria for candidates outside of those in the Constitution i.e. age, citizenship and school certificate qualification. But includes barriers like: conviction for fraud, dishonesty, certified lunatic, bankruptcy. The amendments also touch on campaign donations and increases the individual donation limit from 1 Million Naira to 10 Million Naira. There is a section which addresses the question of over-voting and stipulates that the results of a polling unit where the number of votes cast exceeds that of registered voters should be declared null and void. There is an amendment which increases the limits on election expenses incurred by candidates. For example, a Presidential candidate is now N5billion instead of N1 Billion and a Governorship candidate is now N1billion instead of N200m. Political pundits says that the mother of all proposed amendments is the clause that seeks to take away INEC’s discretion regarding the sequence of elections. The amendment seeks a set sequence for elections as follows: (a) National Assembly Elections; (b) State Houses of Assembly and Governorship Elections (c) Presidential election. The legislators have argued that there should be some consistency in the sequence of elections. They further argue that as a norm (2015 elections being the only exception since 1999) the Presidential elections has always come last on the time-table so this amendment is just simply converting an established tradition into law. Behind these fair arguments is the politics of it all: the buzz on the street is that it is believed that if the Presidential election comes first there would be a bandwagon effect in favour of the party that wins the Presidency, and this can turn the apple cart against some legislators and governors in waiting. There are also whispers in the street corner about the ruling party not being in favour of this proposed sequence because victory at the National Assembly and Governorship polls of a handful of influential political opponents may increase impetus and resources to change their fortunes during the Presidential elections – the bottom-to-top bandwagon effect is a real threat.
As we wait to see if the President finally assents to this bill, I think as citizens we owe it to ourselves to constantly keep abreast with the electoral process and how it affects our right to make our votes count. This we must do! As John F. Kennedy once said: “The ignorance of one voter in a democracy impairs the security of all.”
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[/vc_column_text][vc_custom_heading text=”Will Mr. President Assent to the Amended Electoral Bill?” font_container=”tag:h1|font_size:22|text_align:justify|color:%236699cc|line_height:1.8″ use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_column_text]
As the 2019 elections draw closer one of the major issues on the table is the amendment to the Electoral Act which has been subject of an interesting game of ping-pong between the President and the legislators. The Senate has recently transmitted yet another amended version of this bill to the President for assent – I think for the 4th time. Whilst we await Mr. President’s signature or decline, it is important to understand some key amendments the bill seeks to introduce and how they play out in the political space.
The amended electoral bill seems to have introductions that if well implemented may serve the purpose of tightening the electoral process and reduce the possibility for election rigging to the barest minimum. One major highlight is the use of card readers or other technological devises to accredit a voter. The current law says a Presiding Officer will only issue a voter a ballot paper once he confirms that his name is on the register of voters. However, the amendment seeks to ensure that the proof that your name is on the voters’ register should be via card readers – so technology must be deployed to determine if your name is on the voters register and you are who you claim to be. Along these same lines, the bill now has a provision that mandates INEC to conduct elections by electronic voting or any other method of voting as it may determine from time to time. Electronic voting (or E-Voting) refers to voting using electronic means to either aid or take care of the chores of casting and counting votes. Depending on the particular implementation, e-voting may use standalone electronic voting machines or computers connected to the Internet so that people can cast their votes and the computer counts automatically. In addition to the above, the new amendment now mandates INEC to go beyond printing the voter’s register – INEC is now required to duplicate and save voters register in an electronic format. With this system anyone can request INEC to issue certified copies of the voters register either in printed copies or electronic formats. In relation to observers, the legislators have sought to amend the law to create additional observation privileges for polling agents by allowing inspection of election materials, as well as making written and audio visual recordings of their inspections before commencement of elections. Accredited observers and officials of the Commission are also added to the list of persons who can make these inspections under the proposed amendment. There is also an amendment that mandates digital storage and archiving of election results by INEC at its national headquarters. And a related amendment that mandates the Commission to record details of electoral materials such as the quantities, serial numbers, particulars of result sheets and other sensitive materials used to conduct elections. Failure to do so shall cause the election to be invalid. The legislators have tried to address the issue of arbitrary and exorbitant fees imposed on candidates by political parties with a new provision that prescribes limits for nomination forms for each elective offices: N150,000 for a Ward Councillorship aspirant in the FCT; N250,000 for an Area Council Chairmanship aspirant in the FCT; N500,000 for a State House of Assembly aspirant; N1,000,000 for a House of Representatives aspirant; N2,000,000 for a Senatorial aspirant; N5,000,000 for a Governorship aspirant; and N10, 000,000 for a Presidential aspirant. This provision outlaws any requirement or criteria for candidates outside of those in the Constitution i.e. age, citizenship and school certificate qualification. But includes barriers like: conviction for fraud, dishonesty, certified lunatic, bankruptcy. The amendments also touch on campaign donations and increases the individual donation limit from 1 Million Naira to 10 Million Naira. There is a section which addresses the question of over-voting and stipulates that the results of a polling unit where the number of votes cast exceeds that of registered voters should be declared null and void. There is an amendment which increases the limits on election expenses incurred by candidates. For example, a Presidential candidate is now N5billion instead of N1 Billion and a Governorship candidate is now N1billion instead of N200m. Political pundits says that the mother of all proposed amendments is the clause that seeks to take away INEC’s discretion regarding the sequence of elections. The amendment seeks a set sequence for elections as follows: (a) National Assembly Elections; (b) State Houses of Assembly and Governorship Elections (c) Presidential election. The legislators have argued that there should be some consistency in the sequence of elections. They further argue that as a norm (2015 elections being the only exception since 1999) the Presidential elections has always come last on the time-table so this amendment is just simply converting an established tradition into law. Behind these fair arguments is the politics of it all: the buzz on the street is that it is believed that if the Presidential election comes first there would be a bandwagon effect in favour of the party that wins the Presidency, and this can turn the apple cart against some legislators and governors in waiting. There are also whispers in the street corner about the ruling party not being in favour of this proposed sequence because victory at the National Assembly and Governorship polls of a handful of influential political opponents may increase impetus and resources to change their fortunes during the Presidential elections – the bottom-to-top bandwagon effect is a real threat.
As we wait to see if the President finally assents to this bill, I think as citizens we owe it to ourselves to constantly keep abreast with the electoral process and how it affects our right to make our votes count. This we must do! As John F. Kennedy once said: “The ignorance of one voter in a democracy impairs the security of all.”
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[/vc_column_text][vc_custom_heading text=”Will Mr. President Assent to the Amended Electoral Bill?” font_container=”tag:h1|font_size:22|text_align:justify|color:%236699cc|line_height:1.8″ use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_column_text]
As the 2019 elections draw closer one of the major issues on the table is the amendment to the Electoral Act which has been subject of an interesting game of ping-pong between the President and the legislators. The Senate has recently transmitted yet another amended version of this bill to the President for assent – I think for the 4th time. Whilst we await Mr. President’s signature or decline, it is important to understand some key amendments the bill seeks to introduce and how they play out in the political space.
The amended electoral bill seems to have introductions that if well implemented may serve the purpose of tightening the electoral process and reduce the possibility for election rigging to the barest minimum. One major highlight is the use of card readers or other technological devises to accredit a voter. The current law says a Presiding Officer will only issue a voter a ballot paper once he confirms that his name is on the register of voters. However, the amendment seeks to ensure that the proof that your name is on the voters’ register should be via card readers – so technology must be deployed to determine if your name is on the voters register and you are who you claim to be. Along these same lines, the bill now has a provision that mandates INEC to conduct elections by electronic voting or any other method of voting as it may determine from time to time. Electronic voting (or E-Voting) refers to voting using electronic means to either aid or take care of the chores of casting and counting votes. Depending on the particular implementation, e-voting may use standalone electronic voting machines or computers connected to the Internet so that people can cast their votes and the computer counts automatically. In addition to the above, the new amendment now mandates INEC to go beyond printing the voter’s register – INEC is now required to duplicate and save voters register in an electronic format. With this system anyone can request INEC to issue certified copies of the voters register either in printed copies or electronic formats. In relation to observers, the legislators have sought to amend the law to create additional observation privileges for polling agents by allowing inspection of election materials, as well as making written and audio visual recordings of their inspections before commencement of elections. Accredited observers and officials of the Commission are also added to the list of persons who can make these inspections under the proposed amendment. There is also an amendment that mandates digital storage and archiving of election results by INEC at its national headquarters. And a related amendment that mandates the Commission to record details of electoral materials such as the quantities, serial numbers, particulars of result sheets and other sensitive materials used to conduct elections. Failure to do so shall cause the election to be invalid. The legislators have tried to address the issue of arbitrary and exorbitant fees imposed on candidates by political parties with a new provision that prescribes limits for nomination forms for each elective offices: N150,000 for a Ward Councillorship aspirant in the FCT; N250,000 for an Area Council Chairmanship aspirant in the FCT; N500,000 for a State House of Assembly aspirant; N1,000,000 for a House of Representatives aspirant; N2,000,000 for a Senatorial aspirant; N5,000,000 for a Governorship aspirant; and N10, 000,000 for a Presidential aspirant. This provision outlaws any requirement or criteria for candidates outside of those in the Constitution i.e. age, citizenship and school certificate qualification. But includes barriers like: conviction for fraud, dishonesty, certified lunatic, bankruptcy. The amendments also touch on campaign donations and increases the individual donation limit from 1 Million Naira to 10 Million Naira. There is a section which addresses the question of over-voting and stipulates that the results of a polling unit where the number of votes cast exceeds that of registered voters should be declared null and void. There is an amendment which increases the limits on election expenses incurred by candidates. For example, a Presidential candidate is now N5billion instead of N1 Billion and a Governorship candidate is now N1billion instead of N200m. Political pundits says that the mother of all proposed amendments is the clause that seeks to take away INEC’s discretion regarding the sequence of elections. The amendment seeks a set sequence for elections as follows: (a) National Assembly Elections; (b) State Houses of Assembly and Governorship Elections (c) Presidential election. The legislators have argued that there should be some consistency in the sequence of elections. They further argue that as a norm (2015 elections being the only exception since 1999) the Presidential elections has always come last on the time-table so this amendment is just simply converting an established tradition into law. Behind these fair arguments is the politics of it all: the buzz on the street is that it is believed that if the Presidential election comes first there would be a bandwagon effect in favour of the party that wins the Presidency, and this can turn the apple cart against some legislators and governors in waiting. There are also whispers in the street corner about the ruling party not being in favour of this proposed sequence because victory at the National Assembly and Governorship polls of a handful of influential political opponents may increase impetus and resources to change their fortunes during the Presidential elections – the bottom-to-top bandwagon effect is a real threat.
As we wait to see if the President finally assents to this bill, I think as citizens we owe it to ourselves to constantly keep abreast with the electoral process and how it affects our right to make our votes count. This we must do! As John F. Kennedy once said: “The ignorance of one voter in a democracy impairs the security of all.”
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/6″][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row]